House Republicans Abandon ‘Plan B’ Bills
House Speaker John Boehner has pulled the pair of “Plan B” bills that were meant to show the nation that Republicans are working towards a solution to the impending fiscal cliff.
One of the bills narrowly passed the House on Thursday, but Boehner pulled the second before it could come to a vote, reports CBS News. In doing so, the Republican House Speaker also released a statement, saying:
“The House did not take up the tax measure today because it did not have sufficient support from our members to pass. Now it is up to the president to work with Senator Reid on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff.”
Boehner added the the House already passed legislation earlier Thursday that would stop the tax rate increases as well as “replace the sequester with responsible spending cuts that will begin to address our nation’s crippling debt.” The House Speaker then called on the Senate to act.
CNN notes that Democratic leaders, including the president, stated that they would not pass the Republicans’ Plan B bills even though they would raise taxes on those making more than $1 million per year. Frustration with negotiations has been seen on both sides of the issue. Boehner stated earlier, when he introduced the latest bills:
“For weeks, the White House said that if I moved on rates, that they would make substantial concessions on spending cuts and entitlement reforms. I did my part. They’ve done nothing.”
Despite abandoning the Plan B bills and saying that it would be up to President Obama and Senate Leader Reid to avert the fiscal cliff, John Boehner stated that he would still be open to negotiating with the White House but that the House was adjourned for Christmas and would return after the holiday if there is a deal.
