| WASHINGTON — The House Republican leader | | | | over what to do about the tax cuts. |
| said yesterday that he was prepared to vote in | | | | |
| favor of legislation that would let the Bush-era tax | | | | At least five Senate Democrats have already |
| cuts expire for the wealthiest Americans if | | | | voiced public support for continuing the lower tax |
| Democrats insisted on continuing the cuts only for | | | | breaks at all income levels, at least temporarily. |
| families earning less than $250,000 a year. | | | | That suggests that Democrats could come up |
| Tweet 3 people Tweeted this.Submit to | | | | short of the 60 votes needed to overcome |
| Diggdiggsdigg.Yahoo! Buzz ShareThis . | | | | procedural obstacles for a bill that would allow the |
| Speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation,'' | | | | cuts to expire for the wealthy.Boehner, in the |
| Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio made | | | | television interview, said he agreed with those |
| clear that he supports continuing the lower tax | | | | Democrats and suggested he was content to let |
| rates at all income levels and said Democrats | | | | them fight the Democratic leadership and the |
| would be making a mistake by increasing taxes | | | | White House. |
| nike basketball shoes wholesale on anyone, given | | | | |
| the weak economy. | | | | "I think raising taxes in a very weak economy is |
| | | | | a really, really bad idea,'' Boehner said, adding, "I |
| But Boehner said that absent any other option, he | | | | think there is a growing chorus on Capitol Hill to |
| would vote in favor of legislation proposed by | | | | extend all of these tax rates.'' |
| President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, | | | | |
| and other Democratic leaders who want to | | | | Boehner also made clear that he would not cast |
| continue the lower rates only for Americans they | | | | his vote quietly. |
| regard as middle class. | | | | |
| | | | | "If the only option I have is to vote for those at |
| | | | | 250 NIKE Blazer shoes and below, of course I'm |
| "If the only option I have is to vote for some of | | | | going to do that,'' he said. "But I'm going to do |
| those tax reductions, I'll vote for them,'' Boehner | | | | everything I can to fight to make sure that we |
| said in response to questioning by the program's | | | | extend the current tax rates for all Americans.'' |
| host, Bob Schieffer, who pointedly asked whether | | | | |
| Republicans were willing to hold the tax breaks for | | | | In recent days, Boehner has called for extending |
| most Americans "hostage'' to insist on continuing | | | | all the Bush tax cuts for two years and freezing |
| the lower rates for the highest earners. | | | | government spending at 2008 levels. In addition to |
| | | | | the lower marginal income tax rates, aides said |
| As Congress returns to Washington today with | | | | Boehner would like to continue the moratorium on |
| lawmakers in full campaign battle mode, | | | | the federal estate tax, which is also due to expire |
| Democratic leaders have drawn up a daring — | | | | Dec. 31. |
| and potentially unrealistic — agenda for the | | | | |
| abbreviated fall work period. | | | | The one-year elimination of the estate tax has |
| | | | | allowed some extremely wealthy Americans to |
| In addition to extending the Bush tax cuts for all | | | | leave enormous inheritances without paying any |
| but the wealthiest Americans, the Democratic | | | | federal tax. Republicans have long criticized the |
| agenda includes efforts to aid small businesses, | | | | estate levy as double taxation because the |
| finance the federal government until after the | | | | assets were generally taxed as income when |
| contentious election, and approve a new round of | | | | they were first earned. |
| infrastructure spending to pump up the sputtering | | | | |
| economy. | | | | In the interview yesterday, Boehner also |
| | | | | challenged Democrats to pass the annual spending |
| But with many voters angry about government | | | | bills before the November election as a way of |
| spending, progress on much of that agenda is | | | | demonstrating their commitment to reducing |
| considered doubtful by some lawmakers. | | | | federal spending. |
| | | | | |
| Income tax cuts passed under President George | | | | Democrats are planning to adopt a temporary |
| W. Bush will expire at the end of this year unless | | | | spending resolution that would finance government |
| Congress acts and Obama signs the bill. | | | | operations until after the election and thereby |
| | | | | avoid a messy budget fight until the outcome of |
| The cost of extending the tax cuts for everyone | | | | the midterm campaign is determined. |
| for the next 10 years would approach $4 trillion, | | | | |
| the Associated Press reported, citing congressional | | | | White House press secretary Robert Gibbs issued |
| estimates. Eliminating the breaks for the top | | | | a statement yesterday saying, "We welcome |
| earners would reduce that bill by about $700 billion. | | | | John Boehner's change in position and support for |
| | | | | the middle -lass tax cuts, but time will tell if his |
| Boehner's position on the extension, which he had | | | | actions will be anything but continued support for |
| not previously articulated, represents a major | | | | the failed policies that got us into this mess.'' |
| strategic move by Republicans, who are | | | | |
| increasingly NIKE Rift shoes optimistic about taking | | | | Austan Goolsbee, the new chairman of the White |
| control of the House in November. | | | | House Council of Economic Advisers, said on |
| | | | | ABC's "This Week'' that he welcomes Boehner's |
| His decision also raises pressure on Democrats, | | | | comments. "If he's for that, I would be happy,'' |
| who are increasingly divided among themselves | | | | Goolsbee said. |