Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) delivers the weekly GOP address as she discussed the fiscal cliff negotiations going on between Obama, Republicans and Democrats.
Around the 3:15 mark, she reiterates the Republicans position that revenue via limiting egregious tax loopholes and other methods versus raising taxes on a million small businesses, is the way to generate revenue. She also reminds listeners that this was a position Barack Obama himself took previously in stating that raising taxes when the economy is struggling is the wrong thing to do and would kill jobs.
[WATCH]
Related: John Boehner and Harry Reid split over timing of deficit reduction deal:
Republicans say a broad package would be too complex to finish in the next six weeks. But waiting until next year to complete an agreement would also help them politically as President Obama’s election mandate is likely to fade.
Boehner told Obama, Reid and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the meeting that tax reform and entitlement reform should wait until 2013, according to a Boehner aide.
“The Speaker said he believes 2013 should be the year we begin to solve our debt problem through tax reform and entitlement reform, and proposed that both parties work together to avert the fiscal cliff together in a manner that ensures 2013 is that year,” said the aide.
Boehner proposed both parties commit to working toward a framework for tax and entitlement reform in 2013 that sets revenue and savings targets.
Democrats told Boehner they would not accept any postponement of a debt deal unless Republicans agreed to a substantial down payment, and pushed for the up-front funds to come from raising tax rates on the highest two income brackets, according to a Democratic aide familiar with the meeting.
By pressing for significant progress on a deficit-reduction deal during the lame duck, Democrats are hoping to push Republicans to accept hefty tax hikes before the new year.
Republican leaders argue that raising the top income tax rates would hurt small-business jobs. They say increasing tax rates on families earning more than $250,000 would raise only $68 billion in 2013, just enough to pay for six days of federal spending.
“There is a split between Boehner and Reid,” said a senior GOP aide.
Boehner should also publicly point out that the house, controlled by Republicans now, will never do what Nancy Pelosi did with Obamacare and create a mammoth bill then inform the public that it must pass before Americans "will know what is in it."
He should pound that home.
