One day after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R., Va.) surprise exit from the “Biden talks” appeared to elevate him to the position of lead GOP negotiator, House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) firmly reiterated the position of his caucus and called on President Obama to step up and show some leadership if he wants a deal.
The speaker made clear that any proposal containing tax increases, or spending cuts and budget reforms that fail to pass muster, simply does not have the votes to pass the House. “The American people voted for a new majority in the House with clear orders to end the spending binge in Washington,” Boehner said in a statement. “The American people will not accept an increase in the debt limit that is accompanied by job-crushing tax hikes and fails to dramatically cut and reform government spending.”
“They understand that a debt limit deal that raises taxes and fails to rein in spending will hurt our economy and further impede job creation, he added. “And since January, I have been clear: the new majority in the House will stand with the people.”
To that end, Boehner said the House would not vote to increase the debt limit unless it was accompanied by a deal that included: 1) no tax hikes, 2) spending cuts “that exceed the amount of the debt limit hike,” and 3) budget reforms “that will restrict Washington’s ability to spend in the future.”
“These are the realities of the situation,” he said. “If the president and his allies want the debt limit increased, it is only going to happen via a measure that meets these tests.”
Boehner said the president was welcome to put forward a proposal that fails to meet these requirements, and gave his word that he would allow a vote in the House, but added: “[A] measure that fails to meet these tests cannot pass the House.”
If President Obama wants a deal to raise the debt ceiling, Boehner said, it is up to the president to get it done. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to do something big for our economy and our country,” he said. “With presidential leadership, we can seize this moment and deliver something important for the people we serve.”
Seems reasonable to me.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'll support this after I see the spending "cuts".
Any flim-flam with projected spending, or baseline, or spending authority, or 10-year plans, is a non-starter for me.
The proof of spending cuts is simple - how much less are they going to spend next year vs. this year.
Anything else is just, to use a cliche, kicking the can down the road. Future Congress has no obligation to stick to any 10-year budget agreed to by this Congress.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm sure you realize that what you're describing is almost certainly what most of the spending cuts are. It's probably $2 trillion in spending cuts, $200 billion over 10 years with a fair chunk being from accounting a good measure being against baseline.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think you don't comprehend the populous at this point. I think enough of the nation is watching the situation intensely enough to identify any false cuts.
I am somewhat amused by the pundits on both the northeast and western coasts who aren't aware how angry the voters in America are.
There is more than just an expectation for real cuts, there is adamant demand.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis could work.
All we need is for Pres. Obama to demonstrate vision and courage and to put the interests of the nation ahead of all else.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell if Boehner stands "with the people," then shouldn't he support raising taxes on the top 2%, since thats what the people have said they want?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBobby, what's that going to do? Nothing. We're so buried in debt that even if we taxed the top 2% 100%, it wouldn't make a dent. The thing to do IS CUT SPENDING! We wouldn't need so much revenue if we weren't spending it. Besides if we did give more money to Congress, they'd just spend it. Not pay down the debt. Why is that so hard for people, like you who just want to GET someone, to realize this very simple concept? Why? Why? Why?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo... Boehner's statement is that anything he can't get votes for can't pass, he doesn't want any "tax hikes" but won't clarify and he want some grunting about fiscal responsibility going forward.
Sounds about like par for politics, bogey for conservatives and probably a birdie for the President.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWe need a downpayment cut of $500 billion in FY 12 alone to affect the future baseline budgets and calm the markets. And the $500 billion must be iron-clad cuts.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe markets don't care. They seriously don't care. The timelines on which deficits matter are not just outside the period in which funds plan, they're outside the period which comprises the careers of the people who plan them.
The markets do not care.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's probably too late for this, but I think the GOP leadership in the House and in the Senate should have collectively said, "Look, we can't begin negotiations about this debt ceiling business until we see an actual Democrat budget proposal. How can we begin negotiations with the Democrats when we don't know where the Democrat starting point is?"
Instead, the GOP sent Paul Ryan's budget front and center so he, and the people who voted on the proposal could be sitting ducks for the ad hominem attacks from the Dems, all the while the Dems were practically insulated from a counter-attack on their budget because they don't have a budget.
Tactically, I'm just not sure the GOP made the smart play on the 2012 budget. And, I'm not convinced they have the upper hand in these debt ceiling talks.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseScott Wilson,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou make a good point but the Republicans couldn't very well criticize Democrats for not having a budget if they themselves didn't produce one. Yes, they've taken a pounding, but it has kept focus on the debt and approaching catastrophe. The best Dems can come up with is status quo and more taxes. But where I disagree with you is the GOP does indeed have the upper hand in the debt ceiling debate. They're only weakness is weakness (going wobbly).
Please don't misunderstand, I'm not saying the GOP shouldn't have produced and then passed a House budget. But, I am saying that after that happened, they shouldn't have allowed a single discussion on the debt ceiling until Harry Reid did the same, or AT LEAST until Reid put up a Dem budget for a vote.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePlease, please God, let them stick to their guns this time.
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