Speaker Boehner warned the House Republican Caucus that should the end of the year approach without a deal on the fiscal cliff they might have to resort to "Plan B." That is--pass a continuation of the Bush tax cuts for everyone except those making more than $1million dollars. Then sending it off to the Senate for their action/or non action.
The White House immediately rejected the Boehner Plan B a rejection that the Speaker's office said "defies common sense."
The White House immediately rejected the Boehner Plan B a rejection that the Speaker's office said "defies common sense."
"Every income tax filer in America is going to pay higher rates come Jan. 1 unless Congress acts," Boehner said Tuesday morning, as he introduced his alternative plan.
Boehner called for taxes to rise only on households making more than $1 million. His plan [B] also called for entitlement cuts and a tax reform debate next year.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, though, said it "doesn't ask enough of the very wealthiest in taxes and instead shifts the burden to the middle class and seniors," and cannot pass the Senate.Buck said Obama was moving the goal posts and "threatening every American family with higher taxes."
Within minutes, Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck fired back: "After spending months saying we must ask for more from millionaires and billionaires, how can they reject a plan that does exactly that?"
A Boehner aide said the speaker is "hopeful an agreement will be reached," but complained that the president's latest counteroffer includes $1.3 trillion in revenue increases and "only" $850 billion in spending cuts.The real question is whether the Speaker can sell any deal (or any plan b) through the house, which cannot be too enthused by a tax increase no mater what percent of the population is taxed. Many of these reps ran on/and were elected based on the promise that they would not raise taxes even a "Plan B" would be breaking that promise.
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