Vice President Biden told House Democrats on Wednesday that the tax agreement the White House struck with Republicans was essentially final, forcing the divided caucus to decide whether to press its fight for changes in the package.
“It’s up or down,” Biden told the caucus in a closed-door meeting, according to Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.).
“So far as the administration is concerned, it’s take it or leave it,” Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), one of the most vocal critics of the tax deal, told The Hill after the meeting. “I would say [Biden] was pretty specific about that.”
Biden did not address reporters as he left the briefing. “It was great,” he said in response to a shouted question.
President Obama dispatched the vice president to his old Capitol stomping grounds for the second straight day to try to quiet a Democratic uproar over the compromise he negotiated over the expiring George W. Bush-era tax cuts.
Full Story: Tax cut deal can’t be changed, Biden tells House Democrats – TheHill.com
WATCH: OBAMA ON THE DEFENSIVE OVER THE TAX PLAN
