-House Ways and Means Chief Dismisses Obama’s ‘Same Old Demand’
-Rep. Camp: ‘Don’t Have Time To Waste’ on Plans ‘Going Nowhere’
-Sen. Hatch: Need ‘Concrete And Balanced Plan’ From Obama
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Voicing frustration and concern, House Ways and Means
Committee Chairman Dave Camp said Wednesday it is critical to begin “serious and
substantive negotiations” immediately on proposals to avert the fiscal cliff.
In a statement, Camp chided President Barack Obama for issuing “the same
old demand” at his Wednesday press conference, insisting only Bush-era tax cuts
for those families making $250,000 or less should be extended.
“Time is short, and, frankly we don’t time to waste on offers that
are going nowhere,” Camp said.
Camp lamented talks between Obama and congressional leaders are not
starting until Friday and that the president will then leave for an
Asian trip.
“We are ready,” Camp said, referring to the GOP’s desire to begin fiscal
cliff talks.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance
Committee, also hit Obama for restating his fiscal views at his press
conference.
He said he was “taken aback” that the president warned the nation will go
over the fiscal cliff unless the GOP relents on its opposition to tax rate
increases.
Hatch called on Obama to propose a “real concrete and balanced plan
that includes real, lasting entitlement reforms.”
** MNI Washington Bureau (202) 371-2121 **
–email: jshaw@mni-news.com
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