There have been a number of gossipy-palace-intrigue stories from Capitol Hill over the past few months — and they are likely to be on the increase with the Eric Cantor-Kevin McCarthy-Paul Ryan Young Guns book release next week — about how in-step high-ranking House Republicans are with their leader, John Boehner. Well, this morning, Boehner was on Good Morning America – as a precursor to another likely attack on him in his home state from the president later today (if the recent past is any indication) — and offered two ideas for economic relief that Congress could act on this month. And before much of Washington got to work, Paul Ryan was wholeheartedly endorsing Boehner’s proposals.
Here’s how Boehner’s office lays it out:
House Republicans are calling on Congress to take the following two actions this month:
1. Pass a bill that cuts non-security related government spending for the next year back to FY 2008 levels – before all of the bailouts, government takeovers, and ‘stimulus’ spending sprees began. On Monday, President Obama proposed another round of the same failed ‘stimulus’ spending that has led to fewer jobs and more debt. The legislation House Republicans are proposing would provide the fiscal discipline economists say is needed to promote private-sector job creation and prevent a lame-duck Congress from writing another bloated omnibus spending bill after the November elections. Exceptions should be made for programs affecting seniors, veterans, and national security.
2. Enact a two-year freeze on all current tax rates to stop job-killing tax hikes on families and small businesses. This would help ease the uncertainty employers and entrepreneurs are facing so they can get back to creating jobs. While President Obama intends to move forward with his plan to raise taxes on half of small business income in America, House Republicans will continue to fight to permanently stop job-killing tax hikes.
Here’s Boehner on GMA:
Here’s Ryan’s press release:
“Washington’s Neo-Keynesian economic experiment has failed, putting our exceptional nation on a path to our own lost decade. Uncertainty fueled by looming tax hikes and unsustainable levels of government spending continue to stifle job creation and stagnate growth. We must set a new course.
“Leader Boehner has offered an immediate plan of action to do just that: freeze non-security discretionary spending at FY2008 levels; prevent massive tax hikes on all Americans. This common sense plan marks the critical first steps to restrain the explosive growth of government and would provide much needed certainty for job creators to restart the engine of growth and prosperity.
“Just yesterday, the President’s recently departed budget director joined the growing chorus of Republicans, Democrats, and respected economists in opposition to the looming tax hikes set to hit an economy that simply cannot afford it. We also cannot afford Washington’s reckless spending spree, which is why Leader Boehner is exactly right to match his call to freeze taxes at their current rates with a proposal to cut and cap spending for the coming fiscal year. Earlier this year, Congressional Democrats gave up on a budget. With no budget, no priorities, and no restraints, it is irresponsible for Congress to jam through trillions more in record new spending followed by massive tax hikes in an attempt to pay for their profligacy. We cannot continue to chase ever-higher spending with ever-higher taxes.
“When the House returns next week, I hope there will be a bipartisan commitment to making Leader Boehner’s common sense plan to restrain government spending and prevent the looming tax hike a top priority.”
The president may have the same Republicans-have-nothing-to-offer lines in his speech today — complete with sarcasm about Boehner & co. sipping Slurpees on the sidelines while Democrats do stimulating work for America — but the lines would continue to be not quite true. Today you can begin by just replaying the George Stephanopoulos videotape to fact-check the lines.