–House Speaker Boehner: No Debt Hike Without Spend Cuts & Controls
–‘No One Knows’ Obama’s Bottom Line on Budget
–Only Tax Increases Are ‘Off The Table’ In Budget Talks
–Wants House To Pass Three Free Trade Agreements By August Recess

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday he sees
a “real opportunity” this year to make significant progress in bringing
down budget deficits.

At a briefing, Boehner said he hopes the budget talks hosted by
Vice President Joe Biden Thursday morning will prove to be a
constructive start to intense bipartisan work on fiscal issues.

“I’m optimistic the conversations have to begin,” he said.

He said Republican leaders are very eager for President Obama to
present a fiscal proposal that would accompany debt limit legislation.

“No one knows,” what the president’s plan is for controlling
deficits and debt, Boehner said.

Boehner disputed reports that congressional Republicans have
decided to withdraw their controversial plan to overhaul Medicare or
have decided to set aside efforts to reform entitlement programs.

“Nothing is off the table except for raising taxes,” he said.

Boehner said it’s time for deficit reduction efforts to become far
bolder. “It’s time to start talking about trillions,” he said.

The Speaker repeated his view that the House will not pass an
increase in the statutory debt ceiling this summer unless there are
“spending cuts and budget reforms” linked to the package.

Boehner said he will “have a little bit more to say” about the
House Republican debt limit strategy when he gives a speech next week in
New York.

On other matters, Boehner said he wants the House to pass the three
pending U.S. bilateral trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South
Korea, before Congress’s August recess.

He called on the administration to help lobby support to pass the
three trade agreements.

Finally, Boehner signalled that he does not support tapping the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve this summer to try to force down gas prices,
saying it was never created as a tool to influence prices.

“It’s there for an emergency,” he said.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **

[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MFU$$$,MCU$$$]