Boehner: Obama "has to lead" on taxes, immigration

AP Photo/Susan Walsh

After taking some big hits in the 2012 elections, Republicans face more pressure to work with President Obama on big issues like the so-called "fiscal cliff" and immigration reform, but House Speaker John Boehner today said it was up to the president to forge bipartisan paths forward on these issues.

"This is an opportunity for the president to lead," Boehner said in a press conference with respect to the fiscal cliff -- an issue that must be addressed before 2103. "This is his moment to engage the Congress and work toward a solution that can pass both chambers."

Play Video

Boehner: Fiscal cliff is Obama's "moment" to lead

The "fiscal cliff" refers to a series of tax increases and spending cuts slated to go into effect on Janary 1, potentially sending the U.S. into another recession. It includes the expiration of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and the expiration of the payroll tax holiday that Mr. Obama instituted. Around $1.2 trillion in cuts to both defense and non-defense programs are also set to kick in on January 1 unless Washington acts.

Boehner today maintained that Republicans want to avert the fiscal cliff without raising any taxes and "in a manner that ensures that 2013 is finally the year that our government comes to grips with the major problems that are facing us." Next year, he said, "should be the year we begin to solve our debt through tax reform and entitlement reform."

The speaker added that he had a "cordial," short conversation with Mr. Obama earlier this week and is hopeful that "productive conversations" can begin soon on the fiscal cliff. As he has for more than a year, Boehner said that he's open to creating more tax revenue, by closing tax loopholes and eliminating some deductions, just not raising tax rates.

• What is the "fiscal cliff"? A Q&A
• The fiscal cliff explained
• Obama win: What it means for your tax bill

Raising taxes, he said, "would slow down our economy. The number one issue in the election was about the economy and jobs... Raising tax rates will slow down our ability to create the jobs everyone says they want."

According to a new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, there's little difference between the economic impact of pursuing Mr. Obama's preferred plan and the Republicans' preferred plan. Extending all of the tax rates that expire next year, except for the payroll tax cut, while indexing the AMT to inflation would add $750 billion to the deficit in 2013 and 2014, but it would increase employment by 1.8 million. By comparison, allowing the tax breaks for income over $250,000 to expire (which Mr. Obama wants to do) would add $670 billion to the deficit and create 1.6 million jobs.

• no previous page
• next

1/2

[sjc_1]

The huge deficits started when Reagan reduced taxes for the wealthy. No rational person believed that you could reduce revenue then balance the budget, but Republicans did so we ended up with $3 trillion more in debt with Reagan/Bush then $6 trillion more debt with G.W. Bush.

[flsunjnky]

And this your moment to follow.

[Middlegrounder]

But one thing I Gree with Obama on is his taxing of the inheritance . Up to 750,000- no tax, 750,000 to 1.5 mil.- 15% tax., 1.5 mil. to 3 mil. 25% tax, 3 mil to 4.5 mil - 35% tax, and anything over that is a 45% tax. As the offspring did not make the income, the should expect to build their own wealth more importantly than wait for daddy to die.

[Middlegrounder]

I am sure that this economy is going to finally see daylight after 2016 as until then jobs are being reduced to 30 hour work weeks as to let oBama have his tax hike. Jobs will be lost, income will be decreased, but those that Re limbs will see their messiah Obama get his tax hikes. Will there be more money....no. Will there be more deficit.....yes. Will joe Biden still play his smoke and screen act....of course. But when it is done we can finally get a president who is in the White House working instead of the golf course playing. So just settle down. We will finally be over the messiah of the Democratic Party and when these followers are only working part time, they will get their head out of their ***** Nd want a fiscally responsible president to fix the mess Obama leaves.

[luadda22]

BishopRobme replies: During the 1950s, America had a 91 percent high-end tax rate. If the 50s had been a dismal economic decade, then it could stand as "Exhibit A" for the GOP to use in attacking high tax rates today
==========================================================================

Are you MARC McDONALD?? Or do you just resort to plagiarism as a simple misguided and failed attempt to make people believe you are smarter than you really are?

[BigMykul]

Why doesn't Oblamo write one of his famous executive orders and bypass congress alltogether? You know, like when he gave the Dream Act to illegal aliens. I don't care when they got here, how long they have been here, or whatever good they've done. None of that offsets the fact that they broke the law getting and being here.
So what happens to the parents of these Dreamers? Do they get legal status too, just so we don't break up the families???

[rationall7]

So Boner says Obama has to lead on taxes then Boner will say we can't raise taxes on the wealthy we would rather let the tax cuts expire so we don't get in trouble with Grover Norquest's pledge we would rather face the backlash of the voters.

[stevehamilton858]

Well, I'm optimistic. I think that the president is going to stop treating House members with kid gloves. I think he will force Boehner to get into the faces of his uncooperative, TP electees, and that Boehner will stop crying and start taking a few junior Reps to the woodshed, where they will start to learn how to take orders. When I was in the Navy, many years ago, there was a disciplinary function called the "Retraining Command" that was used for that purpose. It worked.I never heard of any one who went back for a second lesson.

[BigMykul]

Yeah, I remember that one too. It was scrapped because most that went into it were discharged not long afterwards. Some people were just not salvageable for military use.
Boehner and the Tea Party were elected and reelected to do just what they are doing. Stop the insane spending.

[nobs10]

The reason Obama deported so many illegals is because he got caught with his and Durbbins covert 'dream act', that was being hidden away from the public. Once the public found out about it just in time, the outcry that resulted made him have to so something to look good. Fortunately for him Gov. Brewer (AZ) got in the act, even then he was a jerk about getting troops on the border,despite hiding behind his crooked and inefficient DOJ heads, Holder, Napolitano and Morton. What about those vetted 300,000 illegals ready to deport getting released at the last minute, huh? Some deporting, that's 300,000, not 3,000 or 30,000. Obamas big deportation is a lie and farce Mexican advocates,journalists, anchors, activists and paid corrupt politicians keep up to throw us off. How bout doing something for Americans and this country for a change and not illegals and the babies they have because they are told to so they can take over.

As far as Obamas new job numbers of 7.8, it's because businesses are hiring for the holidays. Wait until this March. Not only that Obamas Secretary of State, a latina who handed out illegal tax id's, came out with those numbers right after Obamas s disastrous first debate. Something had to make him look good. Everything Obama does is backhanded.

[cydygitt2]

NOBS10 says: "..Obamas Secretary of State, a latina.."



Typical uninformed faux nooz parrot, spewing the usual rightwing propaganda, showing their utter ignorance, since President Obama's Secretary of State is Hillary Clinton -- NOT a Latina! LOL!

[e_lizabeth]

Paul Ryan for Speaker of the House!

[stevehamilton858]

Please Lord, no. Elderly people living on fixed incomes, like me, will get kneecapped by this guy and his position on vouchers. If he's the top dog in the House, the poor and elderly who rely on Medicare will be driven further into poverty, while preferential tax rates for the super-rich get protected.

He's dangerous enough in his present job, let's not pump his ego up further, with a promotion to Speaker. Mr. Ryan may attend services at the Catholic Church, but his beliefs and actions do not follow the teachings of Christ. Truth be known, the Church ought to excommunicate him for his vouchercare position, but he's probably too big a contributor to his parish.