John Boehner Presser On Fiscal Cliff: I Hope '2013 Is Finally The Year' For A Grand Bargain

» 7 comments

Speaker John Boehner delivered remarks and took questions from press on Friday, ahead of President Barack Obama's scheduled remarks on the economy. Noting the need to tackle the 'fiscal cliff' and reach bipartisan solutions, Boehner said 'this is an opportunity for the president to lead.'

'This is his moment to work on a solution that can pass both chambers,' Boehner said, also adding that he add a 'cordial' meeting with the president earlier this week.

Boehner expressed hope that '2013 is finally the year' the government can agree on a grand bargain on spending and debt. 'When the President and I have been able to come to an agreement,' he said, 'there's been no problem getting it passed in House.'

Regarding a tax deal specifically, the Speaker argued that 'raising tax rates will slow down our ability to create the jobs that everyone says they want.' Reinforcing an often-cited Republican argument, Boehner said the problem with raising taxes on the wealthiest 'is that more than half are small business owners.'

Asked if he'd use the debt limit as leverage, he replied, 'It's an issue that's going to have to be addressed.'

During the question-and-answer portion, Boehner was also asked about immigration. Noting he was 'not going to get any details,' he said, 'on an issue this big, the president has to lead.'

Speaking more broadly about the Republican party itself, Boehner said the principles of the party are sound, but: 'It's clear that as a political party we have some work to do.'

Watch the presser below, via CNN:

• I'm pretty sure that refusing to consider an option is going to make bargaining difficult. Raised taxes have to be on the table as a possibility.

• Let's all hope so Mr Boehner'

  'Otherwise some of us could be crying for a while!

• The CRYING ORANGE MAN is a liar and can not be trusted to make a deal he will not break as soon as he is out of the room. He has already been making demands that he get everything he wants and that the President gets nothing he wants.
  His idea of compromise is that democrats can do it the conservative way and just shut up about any thing called GIVE AND TAKE.

  There is no guarantee he will be the NEW Speaker, his party lost seats in the House and several of 'his' members are being investigated by the FEDS and STATES for their corruption and abuse of their offices for personal gain issues AND he has been trying to find away around the BAN on 'ear marks' and 'member directed spending' so he can return to the republican culture of corruption and get it back into bed with K-Street and that UNION OF CORPORATIONS AND WEALTHY OLIGARCHS called the US Chamber of Commerce.

• After he got conned by Obama in 2010, when the GOP had a mandate, I hope he won't get fooled again this time.

• Without a deal on the Bush tax cuts Boehner has no hand at all. For a small price (ending them for people making over 250k) Boehner can get a pretty sweet deal, what he should have made with Obama in 2011. Failing that though Boehner will be the guy that killed the economy. So he's either a statesman or a complete dud as a leader. The markets aren't going to be kind.

• Don't be a doofus. There was a deal there to be made but Boehner couldn't lead on the tax issue. He has one more chance to prove himself.

• And if the Tea Party won't play ball the closeted Republican moderates are going to have to play nice with Pelosi.