House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats have “done nothing” but “slow-walk” the American economy “over the fiscal cliff.”
Before the Senate adjourns, Boehner said Reid should allow a vote on the GOP plan that would “protect 99.81 percent” of the American people from tax increases.
“President Obama and Senate Democrats haven’t done much of anything. Their plan B is to slow walk us over the fiscal cliff and for weeks the White House said if I moved on rates they would make substantial concessions on spending cuts and entitlement reforms. I did my part. They’ve done nothing,” Boehner said at his weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill.
“The president has called on the House again and again to pass a bill that would protect 98 percent of the American people from a tax hike. Well, today, we’re going to do better than that. Our bill would protect 99.81 percent of the American people from an increase in taxes. It’s permanent tax relief for individuals.”
If passed by Congress and signed into law, Boehner’s “Plan B” would raise taxes on families making over $1 million. Obama has advocated for taxes hikes on households earning over $250,000 per year as part of an agreement to avert the fiscal cliff.
“Two years ago, fifty three Democrats voted for a bill like this one, now they say they oppose it,” Boehner said.
“Rather than tell us what they can’t do, maybe they should tell us what they can do. And if Senate Democrats and the White House refuse to act, they’ll be responsible for the largest tax hike in American history.”
He added that the House is also set to vote on a measure that would replace the automatic spending cuts set to take effect next year with budgets reductions in other areas.