Republican Senator Rob Portman in a conference call with Ohio reporters Thursday said negotiations to expand the nation's debt ceiling hinge not only on trimming the budget, but also implementing tax reform. " It's a matter of reforming our tax code and making it more efficient. Every economist I think would agree that will help the economy, because our current code is too complicated, too expensive," said Portman.

Portman says with the nation still struggling to re-energize the economy now is not the time for tax increases as President Obama and many Democrats in Congress are proposing to reduce the nations' debt. " This quarter unfortunately we're not seeing the type of job growth or consumer confidence we hoped for, so why would you want to raise taxes? There is an obvious need to reform the tax code, and by doing so you will increase revenue because you'll have more economic activity. That's the way to go."

Portman is also fed up with what he calls the "blame game' between Democrats and Republicans over the budget deficit. " I think its too bad that it's now become a blame game, rather than how do you get to yes, and I think there's a way to get to yes," Portman told reporters.