Local congressman predicts fiscal cliff deal will be reached - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News)- President Obama announced Friday, he's holding out hope that a deal can be reached before the nation plunges over the fiscal cliff.

There are only four days left until the deadline. Republican Congressman Rodney Alexander has been called to Washington, but before leaving, he sat down with KNOE 8's Victoria Shirley to talk about the situation.

The clock is ticking. Congress must agree on a deal to avoid what is being dubbed as the fiscal cliff, before New Years day.

Going over the cliff will affect 88-percent of tax payers, whose taxes could go up an average 34-hundred dollars a year. "We don't think that's something that needs to take place with the economy is suffering the way it is," said 5th district Louisiana congressman Rodney Alexander received the call Thursday to report to the nation's capital by Sunday.

Alexander says the atmosphere at the capitol is uncertain with many of his colleagues unwilling to compromise. "Too much needs to be done today for congress to be squabbling," said Alexander. He says being up against the fiscal deadline and grid locked is nothing new for lawmakers.

But says the situation is more frustrating for Americans because of the poor economy. "Perhaps the crisis is a little more obvious than it has been in the past," said Alexander and adds if we fall off the fiscal cliff, not all is lost.

Congress can still go back and roll back cuts. But he doesn't think it will get to that point. "I'm confident something will happen between now and the end of the year," said Alexander. The Congressman will head back to Washington Sunday cautiously optimistic, both sides of the aisle will be able to strike a deal.