Boehner to call for open debate on Bush tax cuts

“Yesterday the Republican members of the House Rules Committee sent a letter to Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) requesting an open and fair debate when the House considers legislation to extend tax relief for all Americans,” Boehner wrote. “I write today on behalf of our entire Conference to formally endorse this request, which is of particular importance as it becomes evident that a bipartisan majority in the House is in agreement with the American people that all of President Obama’s coming tax hikes should be stopped.” 

He also warned that using procedural tactics to stop Republicans would not be tolerated. 

“Using the suspension process — which requires a two-thirds vote in the House to pass legislation instead of a simple majority vote — as the vehicle for a vote on legislation that would stop President Obama’s tax hike on all tax-paying Americans would be an obvious attempt to circumvent the will of the House by denying Republicans and many Democratic members their right to offer an alternative proposal,” he wrote. 

“Such a transparently political tactic would be certain to bring further discredit upon our institution at a time when Americans’ distrust of Congress is at an historic level, and would send the clear message to the people that President Obama and the leaders of the Democratic-controlled Congress are more committed to partisan campaigns to preserve your power than to helping our economy create jobs for our constituents,” he added. 

In addition, Boehner said the coming tax increase creates uncertainty in the economy and hinders its recovery. 

“If President Obama and the Congress are truly focused on jobs, we should take action immediately — together, in a bipartisan way — to aggressively reduce spending and stop all of the coming tax hikes,” he wrote. “Until this has been accomplished, the White House and Congress are not focusing on jobs.”