Boehner would back middle-class tax cuts alone
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) gestures as he addresses his weekly news conference with Capitol Hill reporters in Washington, March 19, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Hyungwon Kang
WASHINGTON |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Republican in the House of Representatives said on Sunday he would support an extension of tax cuts for middle-class Americans even if tax cuts for the wealthy are allowed to expire.
Representative John Boehner said President Barack Obama's plan to renew lower tax rates for families making less than $250,000 but let the lower rates for wealthier Americans expire was "bad policy." Republicans want to extend all of the cuts passed under former President George W. Bush.
"If the only option I have is to vote for some of those tax reductions, I'll vote for it," Boehner said on CBS's "Face the Nation" program.
"If the only option I have is to vote for those at 250 and below, of course I'm going to do that," he said. "But I'm going to do everything I can to fight to make sure that we extend the current tax rates for all Americans."
Republicans say raising taxes on the rich would hurt a flagging economy and have promised to fight to extend the entire package of tax cuts when Congress returns to work this week.
"I've been making the point now for months that we need to extend all the current rates for all Americans if we want to get our economy going again, and we want to get jobs in America," Boehner said.
Obama has pressured Republicans to push ahead with extending the middle-class cuts that both parties agree on and then focus on the tax rates for wealthy Americans. He says extending cuts for the wealthy would increase the budget deficit and represent a return to tax policies favoring the rich promoted under the Bush administration.
(Editing by Philip Barbara)
- Tweet this
- Link this
- Share this
- Digg this
- Reprints
Mr. Boehner is perpetuating the “problem” our country faces. I am not a business owner but I do know that those with an income of more than $250K are more apt to have a business and EMPLOY workers or at the least invest in businesses that DO employ people than middle class people.
Mr. Boehner, and it seems, the most of the existing GOP in Congress have not still received the message, “The people want to have jobs!” Keeping tax cuts for people who do not have jobs DOESN”T HELP!
GOP, RINOs, DEMs…get the message. The people want JOBS. The people want the economy FIXED. The people want the BORDER problem FIXED. If you are not going to do these things fast and proper your existance is questionable.
Forget the PARTY image and develop a “What is best for the country” image. Why else do you think the Tea Party has the influence it has gained?
It is obvious, the fact that the Tea Party has attracted GOP, DEM and Independent voters, has escaped the understanding of the existing Congress.
Mr. Boehner’s reasoning here seems to be the standard “Middle of the Road” RINO leadership we have come to expect from the majority of GOP in Congress. Tread lightly and open your eyes because it seems to me the face of the GOP will be changing dramatically.
Follow Reuters