House Speaker John Boehner accused President Obama Monday night of creating a "crisis atmosphere" in negotiations over increasing the debt limit, saying that if the president will simply sign House legislation to increase the debt limit that atmosphere "will simply disappear."
Boehner made his remarks following a prime time address by Mr. Obama, who he suggested "wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today."
House Speaker John Boehner discusses the debt ceiling fight in a national address July 25, 2011 in Washington.
/
CBS
With just eight days remaining before the August 2 deadline, when the Obama administration says the United States will breach its legal limit on borrowing, Boehner was defiant in his remarks, suggesting that House Republicans have passed one bill and will this week pass another that would alleviate the crisis.
The speaker left out some important context, however.
The bill that has already passed - the 'Cut, Cap, and Balance' Act - would require deep cuts in entitlement programs, and it is virtually unthinkable that it could pass the Democrat-led Senate. And the bill he says will be passed this week is no sure thing, with Conservative Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, leader of a fiscal conservative faction, saying he opposes the new bill and that "only a Balanced Budget Amendment will actually solve our debt problems."
The new Republican bill involves a two step process that begins with immediate cuts and caps in discretionary spending, potentially saving $1.2 trillion over a decade. In exchange, the debt ceiling would be raised by less than $1 trillion, enough to last the nation through the end of the year. The spending caps would trigger automatic across-the-board spending cuts if not met.
The House GOP plan then creates a 12-member "Joint Committee of Congress" that would additionally identify $1.6 to $1.8 trillion in deficit reduction over a decade. The House and Senate would consider those savings in an up-and-down vote, without amendments. If the plan passes, President Obama could then request a separate, $1.6 trillion debt limit increase.
The president and Senate Democrats have ruled out that plan, however, saying that the short-term increase it requires would create economic uncertainty and potentially result in the United States losing its triple-A credit rating.
Boehner said in his remarks that "the United States cannot default on its debt obligations," echoing Mr. Obama and Democrats' insistence that the debt limit be raised. But he cast the president and his party as unwilling to compromise by passing the House GOP legislation, saying "the president would not take yes for an answer."
"Even when we thought we might be close on an agreement, the president's demands changed," Boehner said, a possible reference to Mr. Obama's call for greater revenues as part of a "grand bargain" deal that would have reduced the deficit by up to $4 trillion. Boehner walked away from that effort Friday.
Of Mr. Obama's call for a "balanced" approach in the debt limit deal - one that includes both spending cuts and revenue increases - Boehner said it amounts to Washington-speak for "we spend more, you pay more."
"The solution to this crisis is not complicated: if you're spending more money than you're taking in, you need to spend less of it," he said. "There is no symptom of big government more menacing than our debt. Break its grip, and we begin to liberate our economy and our future."
Boehner's speech follows a Senate Democratic proposal to increase the debt limit through the end of next year in conjunction with a bill that cuts spending by $2.7 trillion. Critics note that $1 trillion in those cuts come from expected savings from winding down the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Democrats say that plan meets both Republican objectives - it does not include revenue increases and cuts more in spending than the debt limit increase - and thus Republicans are faced with a deal they "can't refuse." Boehner described that deal as "filled with phony accounting and Washington gimmicks" Monday.
The Obama administration has said that without congressional action, the U.S. will breach its limit on borrowing next Tuesday. That could cause the U.S. to default on its debt as well as a host of other negative outcomes, including the suspension of Social Security checks, military pay and other obligations, and potentially cause global financial chaos.
Boehner is in way over his head.
He is out of his league dealing in with Obama, a class of politician light yeras ahead of him.
He's not even his own partys "Man".
The TeaBaggers have his gonads in their cult like grip.
His crying over the smallest of things,reminds me of how drunks get when feeling sorry for their themselves, and their regrets in life, blaming the bottle..
He speaks as if reading a book he really could care less about, with a lack of sincerity that insults the listner.
I was undecided (Independent), but the Gop has stuck its foot in its mouth again, all the way to the hip!
I 'am voting for Obama, he's better than any GOP running!
This crisis atmosphere was created by the intransigent indifference of the entrenched TEA headed GOP and their staunch denial that everyone in America should bear some pain! Boehner's a bumbling idiot boxed in by his TEA party. This TEA party is the extreme Democratic bigots who became Republican's in name only and lay dormant for a few years. Most of the extreme radicals of this movement are from the south. This would normally be a a "Congressional Housekeeping" Debt increase but this current 112th Congress would rather create a catastrophic event bordering on an apocalyptic dream of world depression rather than handing President Obama any debt increase!
Just because President Obama calls taxing Americans more "balanced", it does not make it so. It is destructive to the private sector businesses, the real source of jobs. There is nothing "balanced" about maintaining a bloated federal government at the expense of even fewer jobs in the private sector. This is about as loop sided as it gets.
To RobAla: Not asking the wealthy CEO to participate in their share of tax responsibilities is that right. When Bush cut taxes and factories went to outsourcing, we had a double diminishing of revenues. How did he cover this: by increasing the debt limit.
The workers who lost their jobs did not pay into medicare, social security etc. And you believe this is Prs. Obama's doing??
Your kind of looking at this is one sided vision. That was the origin of our huge unemployment problem. Not Obama.
President Bush began it, and President Obama accelerated the crisis with his idiotic massive expansion of President Bush's wild spending.
Usually, when Washington talks about cuts to government spending, it is only talking about cuts to the automatic increases in federal government spending. Most federal programs have built in 7-8% increases, which is about twice the inflation rate (around 3%). I have a novel idea. Whey can't we just do the following? 1) Have no (that means 0%) increases in federal spending unless we reach a balanced budget and can afford it. 2) Have no tax increases. 3) Look for government waste and get rid of it.
I wonder how long it would take to bring federal spending under control without increases in taxes and any REAL cuts to the federal government. Has either political party done any analysis along these lines? If not, why not?
We have 2 main problems: 1) A staggering $14.4 trillion national debt, which we are adding $1.5 trillion to in deficit spending each year. How long can we keep this insanity up? This has to stop. 2) We have been maintaining a horrible 9% unemployment rate. It is absolutely irresponsible to further damage jobs in the private sector by increasing taxes. The President and many Democrats in the Senate want to feed the federal government by higher taxes on businesses and investors, which will certainly cost Americans more jobs in the private sector.
Enough of this lousy policies and bad economics! No additional taxes! It is time for the bloated federal government to be put on a diet. Why not just bring the expansion of the federal government to ZERO growth, cut waste, and leave the taxes where they are?
With a staggering $14.4 trillion national debt, and adding to it $1.5 trillion each year, it has to be obvious to even the village idiot that Washington politicians have irresponsibly lost total control of rational fiscal thinking. It light of this, how can anyone in their right mind be against a Balance Budget Amendment to the US Constitution that forces this irresponsible bunch of yahoos to control federal spending?
It's true. A fat person is about to run out of food - what do they do? Get more money to buy more food, or go on a diet. Yes, this politically incorrect statement is rude and crude - but it does make it's point. When do we stop feeding our government to become bigger and bigger - to levels no one can sustain?
You and you're Party (the Elephants - big and loud ) are like NERO when he played his "Lyre" while ROME burned. Will that be you're legacy? Don't let the other members of you're party do that to you! Be your own man. Rise up above the SILLY politics and solve the PROBLEM - QUIT BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE - JUST SOLVE THE PROBLEM!!!!!
Do you really want to run this country into the ground just to prove a point? Are you INSANE? Do you have no allegiance to country and citizens? If it helps I just want you to know I'm no longer a democrat or republican. If things do not change soon it's time for REVOLUTION?.
Yes the GOP trying to unseat Pres. Obama... they can't stand to see a "black man" succeed... and put to shame the GOP's that got our country in the situation it is in now. Shame on you BONER, sorry I meant Boehner.
Boehner talks about how poor he was when he was growing up... has he forgotten already...maybe should try walking in the footsteps that the middle and lower class American people are PRESENTLY walking in... Soon after getting the Speaker position he forgot his "roots". He deserves a swift kick in the rear to remind him! Why not ask the people earning over $250,000.00 and the millionaires/billionaires if they would be willing to give a little bit more to help out.
I guess women creates a "crime atmosphere" when she is screamiong from being raped. Boehner (pronounced bone er) wants the President to agree to the ridiculous demands of the Greedy Ole Party. Let the Republican's crash the economy so the people will rise up and vote them into oblivion in 2012. OBAMA 2012
No please ! Crashing the economy is very bad news for millions of Americans. It will also generate even more mistrust of politicians, even hate and that is the last thing we need.
Everytime Boehner opens his mouth he sounds like a spoiled child. MY WAY MY WAY!!!! I am going to have a temper tantrum if I don't get what I WANT!!! It's my way or the highway.
He projects on the Democrats everything that he is doing. Good grief Grow UP!
We have a two party system and the only way that will work is if there is compromise. Both sides give and you meet in the middle. Boehner and the Republicans have given nothing up in this deal. Where are they giving in on some of their core principles? President Obama was even willing to cut entitlements which got his own party angry. What have you done Boehner?
And why on earth would any sane person want a short term deal so we can do this again in 6 months or a year?
When has there ever been a debt ceiling vote that came with all this attached to it?
OBAMA IS HARD HEADED --- HE HAS A DIFFICULT TIME LISTENING AND WORKING WITH OTHERS
COMPROMISE IS NOT HIS STRONG POINT
HE SAYS HE IS NOT BACKING DOWN ON GETTING MORE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS BY HARMING AMERICA WITH REVENUE INCREASES (TAXE$)
NOT BACKING DOWN IS A BIG BOY TERM FOR LITTLE BRAT BEHAVIOR
REMINDS ME OF THE LITTLE BOY AT THE CHECK STAND SCREAMING ---
I WANT IT! I WANT IT! I WANT IT AS HE TURNS BLUE
WHERE SHOULD BIG GOV MAKES CUTS?
Well -- they are working on a plan, and revising it..... that is a good thing - right?
_______________HERE A SOME DEBT SNIP AND CLIP IDEAS____________
>===> CUT ALL FOREIGN AID UNTIL THE DEBT IS --GONE!
>===> END ALL RELATIONS WITH THE UN AND ALL WA$TE RELATED TO THE UN
>===> CLOSE ALL LOOP HOLES FOR JETS targeting cuts to the corporate jet tax loophole
>===>YEARLY external AUDITS for THE FEDERAL RESERVE - fire them if corruption is detected
>===> ===>CLOSE ALL TAX LOOPHOLES FOR COMPANIES LIKE GE
>===> CUT OFF ENTITLEMENTS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS -- CUT ALL UNDOCUMENTED >===> RESTRICT<U> PUBLIC EDUCATION TO ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENs ----- K THRU 12th GRADE >===> RESTRICT ALL "FREE EDUCATION GRANTS" RELATED TO COLLEGES TO UNDOCUMENTED
>===> ALL FREE EDUCATION GRANTS ARE REPLACED WITH LOW INTEREST LOANS (PAY/GO)</U>
>===> CUT OFF ALL BILLS AND POLICIES TO REBUILD OVERSEA NATIONS
>===> CREATE WORK CAMPS (TENT PRISONS) TO RE-BUILD THE TALL SOLID BORDER WALL
>===> MAKE PLAINTIFFS PAY COURT COST FOR CASES THEY LOSE (DISCOURAGE FRIVOLUS LAWSUIT CASES)
>===> CREATE WORK DAYS FOR NON-VIOLENT FELONS TO CLEAR WEEDS, PICK UP TRASH ON ROADWAYS & FIRE PREVENTION
One little thing first: The UN HQ is on US soil. There are many thousand American jobs because of it. Now is not the right time to lose them.
To me it seems very clear that The GOP's reps and the DEM reps have a similar hard time to get on with negotiations. They seem to never agree on anything. I am pretty sure that if both parties agreed to a negotiated deal, then there would be no way that the POTUS would stop it.
That is why I think it is very limiting to imagine that this is Obama's fault only. That would simply not work.
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He is out of his league dealing in with Obama, a class of politician light yeras ahead of him.
He's not even his own partys "Man".
The TeaBaggers have his gonads in their cult like grip.
His crying over the smallest of things,reminds me of how drunks get when feeling sorry for their themselves, and their regrets in life, blaming the bottle..
He speaks as if reading a book he really could care less about, with a lack of sincerity that insults the listner.
I was undecided (Independent), but the Gop has stuck its foot in its mouth again, all the way to the hip!
I 'am voting for Obama, he's better than any GOP running!
OBAMA IN 2012, BET ON IT!
The workers who lost their jobs did not pay into medicare, social security etc. And you believe this is Prs. Obama's doing??
Your kind of looking at this is one sided vision. That was the origin of our huge unemployment problem. Not Obama.
Usually, when Washington talks about cuts to government spending, it is only talking about cuts to the automatic increases in federal government spending. Most federal programs have built in 7-8% increases, which is about twice the inflation rate (around 3%). I have a novel idea. Whey can't we just do the following?
1) Have no (that means 0%) increases in federal spending unless we reach a balanced budget and can afford it.
2) Have no tax increases.
3) Look for government waste and get rid of it.
I wonder how long it would take to bring federal spending under control without increases in taxes and any REAL cuts to the federal government. Has either political party done any analysis along these lines? If not, why not?
We have 2 main problems:
1) A staggering $14.4 trillion national debt, which we are adding $1.5 trillion to in deficit spending each year. How long can we keep this insanity up? This has to stop.
2) We have been maintaining a horrible 9% unemployment rate. It is absolutely irresponsible to further damage jobs in the private sector by increasing taxes. The President and many Democrats in the Senate want to feed the federal government by higher taxes on businesses and investors, which will certainly cost Americans more jobs in the private sector.
Enough of this lousy policies and bad economics! No additional taxes! It is time for the bloated federal government to be put on a diet. Why not just bring the expansion of the federal government to ZERO growth, cut waste, and leave the taxes where they are?
With a staggering $14.4 trillion national debt, and adding to it $1.5 trillion each year, it has to be obvious to even the village idiot that Washington politicians have irresponsibly lost total control of rational fiscal thinking. It light of this, how can anyone in their right mind be against a Balance Budget Amendment to the US Constitution that forces this irresponsible bunch of yahoos to control federal spending?
Do you really want to run this country into the ground just to prove a point? Are you INSANE? Do you have no allegiance to country and citizens? If it helps I just want you to know I'm no longer a democrat or republican. If things do not change soon it's time for REVOLUTION?.
Bob Jessie
Crashing the economy is very bad news for millions of Americans.
It will also generate even more mistrust of politicians, even hate and that is the last thing we need.
He projects on the Democrats everything that he is doing. Good grief Grow UP!
We have a two party system and the only way that will work is if there is compromise. Both sides give and you meet in the middle. Boehner and the Republicans have given nothing up in this deal. Where are they giving in on some of their core principles? President Obama was even willing to cut entitlements which got his own party angry. What have you done Boehner?
And why on earth would any sane person want a short term deal so we can do this again in 6 months or a year?
When has there ever been a debt ceiling vote that came with all this attached to it?
Short answer: Never.
It has been a common standard procedure for years.
This time there was an enormous amount of BAD WILL.
COMPROMISE IS NOT HIS STRONG POINT
HE SAYS HE IS NOT BACKING DOWN ON GETTING MORE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS BY HARMING AMERICA WITH REVENUE INCREASES (TAXE$)
NOT BACKING DOWN IS A BIG BOY TERM FOR LITTLE BRAT BEHAVIOR
REMINDS ME OF THE LITTLE BOY AT THE CHECK STAND SCREAMING ---
I WANT IT! I WANT IT! I WANT IT AS HE TURNS BLUE
WHERE SHOULD BIG GOV MAKES CUTS?
Well -- they are working on a plan, and revising it..... that is a good thing - right?
_______________HERE A SOME DEBT SNIP AND CLIP IDEAS____________
>===> CUT ALL FOREIGN AID UNTIL THE DEBT IS --GONE!
>===> END ALL RELATIONS WITH THE UN AND ALL WA$TE RELATED TO THE UN
>===> CLOSE ALL LOOP HOLES FOR JETS targeting cuts to the corporate jet tax loophole
>===>YEARLY external AUDITS for THE FEDERAL RESERVE - fire them if corruption is detected
>===> ===>CLOSE ALL TAX LOOPHOLES FOR COMPANIES LIKE GE
>===> CUT OFF ENTITLEMENTS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS -- CUT ALL UNDOCUMENTED >===> RESTRICT<U> PUBLIC EDUCATION TO ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENs ----- K THRU 12th GRADE >===> RESTRICT ALL "FREE EDUCATION GRANTS" RELATED TO COLLEGES TO UNDOCUMENTED
>===> ALL FREE EDUCATION GRANTS ARE REPLACED WITH LOW INTEREST LOANS (PAY/GO)</U>
>===> CUT OFF ALL BILLS AND POLICIES TO REBUILD OVERSEA NATIONS
>===> CREATE WORK CAMPS (TENT PRISONS) TO RE-BUILD THE TALL SOLID BORDER WALL
>===> MAKE PLAINTIFFS PAY COURT COST FOR CASES THEY LOSE (DISCOURAGE FRIVOLUS LAWSUIT CASES)
>===> CREATE WORK DAYS FOR NON-VIOLENT FELONS TO CLEAR WEEDS, PICK UP TRASH ON ROADWAYS & FIRE PREVENTION
To me it seems very clear that The GOP's reps and the DEM reps have a similar hard time to get on with negotiations.
They seem to never agree on anything.
I am pretty sure that if both parties agreed to a negotiated deal, then there would be no way that the POTUS would stop it.
That is why I think it is very limiting to imagine that this is Obama's fault only. That would simply not work.