“The president has often said we need a ‘balanced’ approach — which in Washington means: We spend more, you pay more,” Boehner said from his office suites at the Capitol.
The speaker also challenged Obama to help him break the “grip” of the national debt on the stagnant economy. “We are up to the task, and I hope President Obama will join us in this work,” Boehner said.
President Obama told Americans the nation faced a 'deep economic crisis' if Democrats and Republicans could not reach a deal on spending, urging both sides to compromise. (July 25)
In an address Monday night, Speaker John Boehner said Republicans were up to the task of solving the debt crisis, adding that he hoped President Obama would join them in their effort.
Everything you need to know about the debt ceiling
The speeches ended an intense day in Washington. Anxiety hung over several closed-door party caucuses across the Capitol.
After a 75-minute briefing Monday afternoon, rank-and-file Republicans exited a basement room at the Capitol with mixed reviews of Boehner’s approach. He can count on a core group of at least 100 longtime GOP members, lawmakers said.
Many Republicans, particularly among the 87 freshmen, said they need more time to process the complex details of a proposal that would set up a handful of votes over the next six months.
“I think there are some very interesting parts, and the bill has not been put in print yet, and until it’s put in print, I don’t know that I can say one way or the other,” said Rep. Diane Black (Tenn.), whom GOP leaders often point to as a favorite among the newcomers.
Asked Monday if his plan could win enough Republican votes, Boehner deferred to House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.).
“We ask all Democrats that want to join with us to put this House on the right path, that they could join with us on this bill,” said McCarthy, the party’s top vote counter.
Democrats, in turn, are urging Republicans to back Reid’s approach, saying GOP members have previously supported every item in the package. Among these are $100 billion in savings identified during bipartisan talks led by Vice President Biden, including up to $15 billion in cuts to farm subsidies and $40 billion from reducing fraud and abuse in government programs. There also is $400 billion in savings from reduced interest payments on a lower national debt and $1 trillion from winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
House Republicans have been reluctant to count war savings in debt-limit talks, but Democrats note that House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) included those savings in the budget blueprint that passed the House this year.
Still, a Ryan spokesman dismissed the Reid proposal.
“An honest budget cannot claim to save taxpayers’ dollars by cutting spending that was not requested and will not be spent,” Conor Sweeney said in an e-mail. “Senate Democrats are employing a budget gimmick that will not fool the credit markets.”
But Reid said his proposal represents the only option for pushing a debt-limit increase through Congress — and getting it signed by the president.
“This isn’t a game of chicken. This is a game of reality,” Reid told reporters. “We’re about to go over a cliff.”
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