Boehner says he's the 'most reasonable, responsible person' in Washington
(CNN) – House Speaker John Boehner, talking about the prospect of negotiating with President Barack Obama on a deal to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff, said in an interview Thursday that he is the "most reasonable, responsible person here in Washington" and that Obama knew he was ready to hash out a plan.
"Of course we'll talk about it. We talk about all kinds of things we may disagree on," Boehner said in the interview with ABC News.
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Congress faces an end-of-the-year deadline before massive spending cuts kick in and tax breaks begin to expire, including the Bush-era tax cuts at the end of December. The fiscal cliff also includes so-called sequestration - automatic across-the-board spending cuts set to trigger at the beginning of 2013 if Capitol Hill fails to create a deficit-reduction plan.
In his interview, Boehner echoed sentiments expressed Wednesday in a speech in Washington, in which he said higher tax rates would be unacceptable to Republicans who control the House.
"I've made it clear to the president, and I think I laid out yesterday - raising taxes on small business people is the wrong prescription, based on where the economy is," Boehner said Thursday.
"Frankly it couldn't even pass the House. I'm not sure it could pass the Senate."
The House speaker said he was glad to see Rep. Paul Ryan return to Congress, despite having lost his bid for vice president alongside Mitt Romney. But asked if Ryan was now the leader of the Republican Party, Boehner (who himself could be considered his party's leader) said the Wisconsin congressman was more focused on economic policy.
"I wouldn't think so," Boehner said. "Paul Ryan's a policy wonk. He's involved in the cause of trying to bring us pro-growth economic agendas for America and making sure that we're doing this in a fiscally responsible way."
Boehner said he had every reason to believe Ryan would return at chairman of the House Budget Committee.
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Last chance johnny boy and little mitch to get on board to help the people, you have said " No " for four years now is you time before your voted OUT. and a side note, quit your drinking, get help !
Well John maybe not, since 80% of the rich voted for obama feel free to raise there taxes to france levels.
There you go again .
He's in the way, vote his tail out.
Boehner is the "most reasonable, responsible person here in Washington"??? WOW!!! Not when he continues:"...higher tax rates would be unacceptable to Republicans who control the House."
The GOP is not going to know what is to hit them in 2014 if they do not move to the center! People are not going to stand for obstruction and insults anymore! GOP, better start thinking where you want to go...
What a joke. He is a tea potty puppet.
You are in a chopping block, and yet you don't know that it is coming. Think! Trickle down economy doesn't work, try to work with the President Obama than with your decaying party for great future of America.
If you are right ....then why that stern mean look ..... on your face?
So are Republicans going to own this impotent Congress when nothing gets done?
Boehner is a lap dog ..he does what his masters .... the Koch brothers and Grover Norquist tell him ....
Boehner needs to rethink that statement if he plans on going to heaven ... his whole tenure as leader of the right ... depends on Grover Norquist and the Koch brothers ..his masters will tell him what to do
Yeah, right. After a few, maybe not that many, drinks.
If bo ner is a real leader he needs to reign in cantor, mcconnell and explain to them the facts of life and government. He already said that they would not cut taxes for the rich (excuse me the job creators that don't create anything except more money for themselves) and he mentioned repealing some parts of Obamacare.
Most small business owners DO NOT MAKE OVER $250,000. Another lie and excuse from the still party of he!! no!
House Speaker John Boehner,...., said in an interview Thursday that he is the "most reasonable, responsible person here in Washington"
That is if you have a check in hand.
He's also the biggest whimp letting the Tea Party nuts control his party!!!
i thought michelle bachman was the most reasonable, responsible person in washington.
"Most reasonable, responsible person in Washington ..."
ah ... no.