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Spending here and there but when the seniors complain they often back down the savings never happen and the program falls deeper into debt jane. jane: and that's a problem for the federal budget too right? >> reporter: absolutely. the problem is medicare and other entitlements are on autopilot money goes out the door automatically whether we're in a recession or not for instance. in fact president obama during a q and a session with drem cat -- democratic senators talked about that very problem saying one of the problems with entitlements say people like them but finding ways to pay for them i...

Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are making, i think it's important to explain to people that in order for us to balance the budget while exempting entitlements, no new revenues, you'd have to cut non-discretionary defense spending by 60%. cut it by 60%. that's everything, student loans, nasa, veterans programs, you name it. we'd have to cut by 60%, 6-0. that's just not going to happen. that's why we called for the commission, because we've got to look at some tough long-term policy objectives, and that's why we've got to -- and i will personally do this, i will say to my republic...

Million. >> reporter: so 30 million more people going into a program we already cannot pay for. medicare and other entitlements are beginning to overwhelm the rest of government. president obama who has obviously been thinking about it pointed to that very dilemma explaining the nation can't get close to balancing the budget if entitlements are off the table. >> you'd have to cut non-discretionary defense spending by 60%. that's everything. student loans, nasa, veterans programs. you name it. we'd have to cut by 60%. 6-0. >> reporter: the president also said one of the problems with trimming e...

That. earmarks account for 1% of the budget. all right? so even if we eliminated all foreign aid in all earmarks it doesn't solve our problem. and as far as the arguments our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are making, i think it's important to explain to people that in order for us to balance the budget while exempting entitlements, no new revenues, you'd have to cut nondiscretionary defense spending by 60%. cut it by 60%. that's everything -- student loans, nasa, veterans programs, you name it. we'd have to cut by 60%. 6-0. that's just not going to happen. that's why we called for ...