-House Speaker Brushes Aside Obama’s Call To Pass Senate Tax-Cut Bill
-‘I’m Confident This Issue’ Will Be Resolved If Good Will
-Can Boost Revenues Without Hiking Tax Rates
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – House Speaker John Boehner said late Wednesday
he continues to be hopeful that a bipartisan agreement can be reached by
President Obama and Congress to resolve the fiscal cliff impasse.
“I remain optimistic,” Boehner said at a briefing with House
Republican leaders, adding that if both parties approach the talks in a
constructive way “I’m confident this issue will be resolved.”
Boehner said that there are “no barriers” preventing bipartisan
talks from reaching an agreement to avert the fiscal cliff.
Boehner brushed aside Obama’s call for the House to pass a Senate
approved bill that would extend Bush-era tax cuts for those families
making $250,000 or less.
“It’s not the direction we want to go,” Boehner said, adding that
the fiscal cliff talks must resolve “dozens of issues.”
Boehner repeated that he supports new revenues but opposes
increasing tax rates as part of a deficit reduction package.
“There are ways to put revenues on the table without increasing
tax rates,” Boehner said.
Boehner said he is eager to begin talks with the president Friday.
** MNI Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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