. >> bethany mcclain wrote about "and ron." this week she will talk about the current financial crisis in the future of the american economy. a sunday night at 8:00 eastern on c-span's "q&a." >> "washington journal" continues. host: we are joined by arthur an economist dean baker, co- director of the center for econom and policy research. as we continue our conversation on cutting the debt and deficit and u.s. fiscal policy. mr. baker, the debt commission, as you well know, the two chairmen proposed some things to cut the debt and deficit. here are some of the specifics they propose. raising the gas tax, retirement age, cutting defense spending, cutting the federal work force, eliminating the mortgage deduction, eliminating earmarked, and reducing social security benefits. you have already written an article in "the new republic." here is the headline -- "deep-6 the deficit commission report." guest: we go through these piece by piece. but my main objection is this is a little peculiar. we have an economic crisis that has nothi

. >> in 2003, bethany mcclain wrote about in ron in "the smartest guys in the room." night at 8 eastern on "q&a". >> on this morning's "washington journal," a discussion of whether the expiration of presiden bush's tax cuts which impact middle-class and wealthier americans. this is about 40 minutes. host: he has served time in the congressional budget office overseeing that and now is the president of the political action forum, douglas akin joining us to talk about the presidt's tax cuts. what's your reaction when you hear about possible talks next week about the extension of the tax cuts from the white house and from others associated with the president? guest: first, good. this needs to be resolved. if we let ts drag on, there's a very real chance that they won't be able to change the withholding tables, and that means every american will see a tax increase. so there is some urgency here. it needs to be decided. host: whether or not do the ones for the middle class and the ones for those who earn more, why do they have to be linked? guest: i think the central issue