Ben Quayle talks health care, spending cuts with ABC15's Kirk Yuhnke

PHOENIX - From the health care overhaul to the budget deficit, it’s been a busy year in politics, and no one is more aware of that than Washington lawmakers.

Freshman congressman Ben Quayle stopped by this morning and talked health care and funding cuts with ABC 15’s Kirk Yuhnke.

Not only is Quayle’s new position his first time as a congressman in Washington, it’s his first job as a politician.

He said it’s been a busy three months and that having a recognizable name brings with it certain expectations.

“You don't let that get to you,” Quayle said.

Quayle added that his family name is actually an asset because he already has connections with other lawmakers.

Repealing the health care reform bill has been at the top of Quayle’s agenda since he began his campaign, he said.

“The health problems are real and we need to solve them,” Quayle said. “But we don’t need to do that in a way that’s going to speed up our health care bankruptcy.”

While the bill hasn’t yet been reformed, Quayle said he is working with other congressmen to block funding for pieces of the bill.

In the meantime, a budget showdown is taking place in Washington, with Democrats accusing Republicans of causing a government shutdown.

“We don’t want a government shutdown,” Quayle said, “but what we want do have are steep spending cuts.”

Quayle said that fiscal responsibility is one of his main goals and that serious decisions need to be made on spending as soon as possible.

“If we just kick the can down the road we’re going to be in serious trouble,” Quayle said.

When asked, Quayle said that cutting spending will mean cutting services and social programs.

Nothing is off the table, Quayle said, and making tough decisions is something that has to happen in order to balance the books in Washington.