Posted on 09/14/2010 7:34:09 AM PDT by kristinn
House Republican Leader John Boehner on Monday clarified his position on President Obama’s plan to raise tax rates on small businesses, releasing an extensive statement exclusively to Human Events saying he was unwilling to accept tax hikes for any American.
Boehner said he’s “got a news flash for the White House”—he’s not willing to accept tax increases for any American and that includes job-creating small business owners.
“It's disappointing and counterproductive that the President and his advisors have decided to spin my comments yesterday as a sign that I am willing to accept tax hikes on any American. Here's a news flash for the White House: I am not,” Boehner told Human Events. “As a former small businessman committed to freedom and smaller government, I strongly oppose the President's plan to raise taxes on small business in a struggling economy.”
Boehner also blasted the White House for a deliberate misinformation campaign.
“I am also unwilling to let the President of the United States and his staff use their positions to mislead the American people into believing Republicans oppose middle-class relief, and I believe my statements yesterday made that clear as well,” Boehner said.
In an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Boehner was accused by host Bob Schieffer of holding tax cuts hostage if the cuts don’t include small businesses.
“Aren’t you kind of holding the tax cuts for the lower-income people, the people making less than $250,000 hostage, so you can give those tax cuts to the upper brackets?” Schieffer asked.
Boehner told Schieffer that his position was to give relief to all Americans paying taxes.
“I want to do something for all Americans who pay taxes. And you have to understand, Bob, that there are large majorities of Democrats in the House and Senate. They haven’t reached out to us for the last 20 months. It’s not Republicans standing in the way here. There’s a growing chorus of Democrats, in both the House and the Senate, who believe that they should extend the current tax rates for all Americans,” Boehner said.
“When you start to look at who’s going to be taxed, about half of all small business income will be taxed under the President’s proposal. These are the very people that we expect to invest in the economy and to begin creating jobs. Why would we want to punish them?” Boehner responded.
When Schieffer asked if Boehner was willing to support limited tax cuts, Boehner responded, “If the only option I have is to vote for some of those tax reductions, I’ll vote for them. But I’ve been making the point now for months that we need to extend all the current rates for all Americans. If we want to get our economy going again and we want to get jobs in America.”
Boehner told HUMAN EVENTS on Monday that he wants the full extension of the tax cuts to come up for a vote before Congress recesses again (to be determined by Democrat leadership) not later than the first week of October to campaign for the November 2 elections.
SNIP
Sounds like Rep. Boenher doesn’t just do the normal Republican roll-over when attacked by scum.
The largest Federal Tax receipts ever occurred in 2007 under the current tax rates.
SPENDING IS THE PROBLEM!
Horse is out of the barn Boner. Need to get it right the first time.
I have started a personal campaign to call democratic congressman urging them to act on the upcoming increase on all tax rates.
I remind them that it is useless for me to call my republican congressperson, because the republicans cannot set the agenda. I also point out that it is unconscionable that this issue has been left so late in the legislative agenda during an election year. And thirdly, I make the point that the profound uncertainty this issue has on my family’s budget, is preventing me from spending ANY discretionary money at the current time.
“congressman” should be plural.
Boehner said he’s “got a news flash for the White House”—he’s not willing to accept tax increases for any American and that includes job-creating small business owners.
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That’s the spirit.
Let those who wish to make DC their favorite charity send them more out of their “stash.”
The Dems have decided that running against GWB isn’t working anymore. So, they’re elevating Boehner in order to have a foil. The State Controlled Media is following orders and including comments/rebuttals from Boehner.
I don’t think Boehner is up to the task.
Dumb statement. When you give the other side ammo, they are going to use it. Boehner could easily have ducked the issue by saying that he will not deal with hypotheticals and that he will press for extending the tax cuts for all, including small businesses.
You don't cave to the other side before negotiations even begin. Boehner is the House minority leader and possible future Speaker of the House. Making dumb statements like this one raise issues about his judgment and suitabilty to be Speaker of the House.
“Boehner also blasted the White House for a deliberate misinformation campaign.”
Good for Boehner.
Well what I heard Boehner SAY was that he would compromise on keeping tax cuts for the middle class (basically we unemployed folks) while allowing them to end for the people who might actually hire some of us unemployed folks.
I know I expressed myself clearly to him yesterday via email and I bet a whole lot of others did too, witness his argument today.
No one spun his comments, but if he is retracting them and going for keeping ALL the tax cuts in place, that’s fine with me. Maybe he just needs to be informed on what his constituents want - these guys become tone deaf as soon as they hit the beltway.
Brilliant!!! He is going to be fun to watch as Speaker of the House.
Once I read he had to clarify, oh oh
Until this past weekend, the discussion was "The Bush Tax Cuts" and "Will the democrats raise taxes?"
Since yesterday morning, EVERY radio story I've heard reporting this, on multiple stations is about "Will the Republicans get in the way of President Obama's plan to cut taxes for the middle class?" and/or "Republicans are pushing tax cuts for the rich."
Thanks so much, Boehner, for sitting there while Schieffer characterized this again and again as "Will Republicans stand in the way of President Obama's plan to cut taxes for the middle class, so they can lower taxes on the rich?"...and going along with his framing of the question!
And people are defending this guy around here.
* Presidents don't create jobs.
God bless John Boehner!!
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