House Speaker John Boehner said House Republicans have made concessions in the talks with the White House over the fiscal cliff, but that President Barack Obama and Democrats have “yet to get serious” about spending cuts to address the nation’s debt crisis.
He also said no “substantive” progress has been made with the White House.
“First, despite the claims that the president supports a balanced approach, the Democrats have yet to get serious about real spending cuts, and secondly, no substantive progress has been made in the talks between the White House and House over the last two weeks,” Boehner told reporters at the Capitol on Thursday.
“Listen, this is not a game. Jobs are on the line. The American economy is on the line, and this is a moment for adult leadership.”
Taking a shot at the president’s trip to Philadelphia to speak about the fiscal cliff, Boehner said, “Campaign-style rallies and one-sided leaks from the press are not the way to get things done here in Washington.”
By putting revenues on the table “up front,” Boehner said Republicans made concessions right away after the election. He remains “hopeful” but wants the White House to “get serious.” (RELATED: Gingrich: House Republicans should stop negotiating with Obama)
A reporter asked Boehner if he is “walking away” from negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House.
“No, no, stop. I’ve got to tell you, I’m disappointed in where we are and disappointed in what’s happened over the last couple of weeks,” Boehner said in response.
Without spending cuts and entitlement reform, it is “impossible” to address the nation’s $16 trillion debt crisis, he argued.
Boehner was also asked if the debt limit increase will be included in the negotiations with the White House.
“As I told the president a couple of weeks ago, there’s a lot of things I’ve wanted in my life and almost all of them had a price tag attached to them,” Boehner responded.
Videography by Sarah Hofmann