Senator: Bipartisan work can solve debt

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Finding ways to pull the United States back from the so-called fiscal cliff is "a test we cannot fail," a New Hampshire Republican senator said Saturday.

Delivering the weekly GOP media address, Sen. Kelly Ayotte urged both Democratic and Republican leadership to work together to find a solution to the nation's "out of control deficits" that includes entitlement reform and new revenue.

"Washington can't keep ducking the tough decisions," Ayotte said. "And the 'fiscal cliff' we're headed toward provides an opportunity for both parties to change our country's irresponsible spending path."

She noted that decade-long tax rates will expire by the first of the year, triggering across-the-board spending cuts.

Failure to stop the combination of tax hikes and spending cuts could throw the country back into recession, she said. "This is a test we cannot fail."

Both parties, she said, can agree to tax reform that generates new revenue without raising taxes.

"One thing is clear: doing nothing is not an option. And any effort to address our fiscal crisis without including entitlement reform can't be taken seriously," she said.

In urging bipartisanship, Ayotte said, "for the good of the nation, now is the time for both parties to bring their best ideas to the table."