Boehner Asks White House to Negotiate, but Obama Declines Invitation
EmailHouse Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, phoned President Obama this morning and asked him to send members of his economic team to the Capitol to end the political stalemate and negotiate a path toward a one-year extension of the payroll tax credit. The president declined the offer.
“With Sen. Reid having declined to call his members back to Washington this week to join the House in negotiating a full-year extension of the payroll tax cut, the speaker proposed that the president send members of his economic policy team up to Congress to find a way to accommodate the president’s full-year request,” a senior aide to the speaker said. “The speaker explained his concern that flaws in the Senate-passed bill will be unworkable for many small-business job creators. He reiterated that if their shared goal is a one-year bill, there is no reason an agreement cannot be reached before year’s end. The president declined the speaker’s offer.”
According to the White House, the president told Boehner “the only viable option” is the two-month extension, but Obama “is committed to begin working immediately on a full-year agreement once the House passes the bipartisan Senate compromise that prevents a tax hike on 160 million Americans on Jan. 1.”
At about the same time as the speaker’s call to the president, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined a chorus of GOP senators in calling for Boehner and House Republicans to compromise on a two-month temporary extension to lure Democrats to the conference committee negotiating table on a long-term deal.
“House Republicans sensibly want greater certainty about the duration of these provisions, while Senate Democrats want more time to negotiate the terms. These goals are not mutually exclusive. We can and should do both,” McConnell wrote in a statement this morning. “Leader Reid should appoint conferees on the long-term bill and the House should pass an extension that locks in the thousands of Keystone XL pipeline jobs, prevents any disruption in the payroll tax holiday or other expiring provisions and allows Congress to work on a solution for the longer extensions.”
The Senate passed a two-month extension of the payroll tax last Saturday, and the House passed its own year-long extension Dec. 13.
This morning Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and the House GOP’s eight conferees held a news conference for the second straight day to call on Democrats to return to Washington and negotiate a one-year deal.
Faced with growing pressure from prominent conservatives to accept the two-month stop-gap measure, Boehner said that “sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing, but we’re working to do the right thing.”
“Politics will be politics. Our team believes it’s always right to do the best thing. And the fact is as I’ve told my colleagues what my parents taught me and what I talked to my kids about growing up: If you do the right things for the right reasons, the right things will happen,” Boehner said at a news conference this morning. “Everybody’s already agreed that the best policy is the one year extension of these policies. All we’re fighting for is what everybody has already agreed to. Let’s sit down and resolve the differences.”
Cantor recalled the president’s holiday shopping trip yesterday with his dog, Bo, and encouraged the president to make the journey to Capitol Hill to hash out a deal.
“I saw the president out yesterday doing his Christmas shopping. I saw he brought his dog with him,” Cantor, R-Va., said. “We’re here. He could bring his dog up here. We are pet friendly. It will not take a long time. We could probably resolve the differences within an hour.”
Immediately following the GOP’s news conference, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and other senior Democrats answered with their own news conference to pressure Republicans to accept the two-month extension and create a path to continue negotiations on a one-year measure.
“Republicans have been arguing about process and politics,” Hoyer said. “The stakes are too high to be arguing about politics and process. The Republican contention that the two-month compromise somehow is unworkable is simply untrue.”
Wednesday, Hoyer and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Budget committee, attempted to pass the Senate’s bill under unanimous consent, but the pro forma session ended before the duo was recognized.
“We could have had this bill to the president’s desk last night. If we open up the House chamber and take up that bill, bipartisan bill, we could have the bill to the president’s desk tonight,” Van Hollen said. “The keys to those doors are in their hands and the keys to this problem are in their hands and it’s very simple: Everybody in the country knows that this is not Democrats versus Republicans. This is Senate Democrats, Senate Republicans, the president and the American people saying to the House Republicans, ‘What are you doing here letting the clock run down in raising taxes on 160 million Americans?’”
The House of Representatives returns for another pro forma session Friday morning. Could Democrats attempt to bring up the Senate compromise once again? “You never can tell,” Hoyer answered as he left the podium. “Stay tuned,” echoed Michigan Democrat Sander Levin.
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
Joe Biden Recalls Death of Wife, Daughter
Of course he declines, he thinks he has you all fooled. And guess what he does.
Business as usual goes on, remember our debt crisis, we have got to cut subsidies
to big oil, Pharma, and agriculture, well all those appropriation bills that got passed
to keep the government running what do you think was in them. Tax cuts for the
1%. Have you read the stories that would have been headlines if they actually cut
the subsidies,NO! So now it is all about chump change for the middle class, that is
coming out of your SSI fund. Open your eyes you are acting like a bunch of marks.
You don’t even realize your being played. Voter bribery and with your own money.
Posted by: deadwrestler | December 22, 2011, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
Just like with the budget, Dems give the Repukes what they ask for, and they come back wanting to change the rules and get their way even more.
Posted by: BOsipov | December 22, 2011, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
Sure, now that loser Boehner wants to get the President involved just in order to try to lay the blame on him. How DUMB are these people??? First they dig themselves into a great big PIT and now, they want to be extracted while STILL getting their way and trying to BLAME others for their own incompetence. Hey John, you’re the WORST Speaker I’ve seen in my lifetime but not to worry, I see Erik Cantor right BEHIND you every day just waiting for you to drop that big gavel you’ve NEVER learned to use!
Posted by: demNme5 | December 22, 2011, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
Hope Bonehead doesn’t start cry’in. LOL
Posted by: Jim Bob sr. | December 22, 2011, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
I really hope those of you who live in Ohio get wise and do not re-elect Boehner, Same to those of you in California with Pelosi, and can’t forget those of you in Nevada… get Reid out as well. We need to start fresh…. Vote out ALL incumbents. They have been in office far to long and obviously forgot who put them there.
Posted by: NoSpin1600 | December 22, 2011, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
Continued proof that Obama doesn’t want a one year resolution. He wants only the two month extension so the fighting will continue. This is what he will run his re-election campaign on. Don’t look at MY failures, look at what is going on in Congress. Pathetic.
BTW. LATE AGAIN.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | December 22, 2011, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
So educate me, the POTUS is preaching about the damage to the middles class if the REP House does not agree to a 2 Month extension – and the REP house already passed aand wants a 1 YEAR extension – so – how is the House wron id ALL THE POTUS wants is to protect the middle class?
Posted by: jamescbuilder | December 22, 2011, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
If I were Boehner I’d cut my loses and pass this. Evidently he has some just refusing to go there. The voters have a short memory and there’s a wad of time until that next election.
Posted by: lexingtonlady | December 22, 2011, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
Thanks, Mister Obama, for taking over my “top” spot on the list of Worst Presidents of the Last Several Decades.
Posted by: President Carter | December 22, 2011, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
duh i only want a 2 month cut in my payroll taxes instead of a year. whats wrong with the media and those of you who cant see yourself getting forked. the senate bill also limits who gets the payroll cut. the house gave the prez what he asked for . get back in town and get to work.as for the house repubs your public relations has already suffered from the this regardless of the fact yu are correct…so stick to your guns you have nothing to lose. dont pass the 2 montsenate bill get to work like i am and i dont get fly on airforce one to hawaii. get to work.
Posted by: catman | December 22, 2011, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
The problem with the 1 year bill was that the Senate Dem would not agree to it. The Senate Reps and the Senate Dems agreed to this, supposedly with Boehner’s knowledge and full support. It was only after the bill was passed and sent to the House that he said NO – because the tea Party are not getting everything they want. They are trying to put policy changes and other Earmarks in the bill that will not get through. When even your own party says you are wrong, Mr. Boehner, you have to do the right thing and get the extension passed for 2 months or risk losing the next 4 years.
Posted by: pksk531 | December 22, 2011, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
WH dossier reports:
Did Bo Return From Hawaii for Obama’s Photo Op?
Bo Obama was supposed to be in Hawaii. Instead, he showed up at President Obama’s side Wednesday shopping for treats at Pet Smart
According to Michelle Obama’s press office, the first dog was planning to go to Hawaii with the first lady and the Obama daughters. The Associated Press reported that he in fact had made it there. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser quoted an eyewitness who said he had seen the Portuguese Water Dog having his walk.
So what is Bo doing back in Washington shopping at PetSmart?
Either all these reports are mistaken, or Bo was told his vacation was over and that he had to return to the White House to keep a lonely president company – and participate in a silly photo op presenting Obama as an average guy who likes to head out to the PetSmart.
If Bo returned from Hawaii, who paid for his flight?
It’s possible he hitched a ride on a return flight of the Air Force plane that brought Michelle from Hawaii, which wouldn’t have really added much to Michelle’s more than $100,000 price tag for her solo trip.”
Our tax dollars at work.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | December 22, 2011, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
JamesCBuilder, I’m afraid you’re wrong. The house hasn’t passed anything. If Boehner would let them vote on it, they would pass the 2 month extension. But Boehner won’t let them vote on it. The Tea Party and the Republicans are, once again, holding America hostage because they won’t stand for anything less than 100% their way.
Posted by: Steve From NH | December 22, 2011, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
I’d let them hang. They were in agreement and then they changed their mind. They treat the president as if he’s their puppet. All they’ve succeeded in doing is creating problems. Why? Because it’s the Richpublican way or the highway. Guaranteed that if the president acquiesces, they still won’t come to a compromise. Why? Because this is all a political game for the Richpublicans. It’s going to backfire in their faces and they deserve every bit of it for being such a bunch of sore losers, unwilling to compromise on any level, especially one that is best for the American people. The Richpublicans are out to serve only their own interests. Boehner is a weakling and bowing down to pressure from Cantor, one of the biggest trouble makers in Washington.
Posted by: carole | December 22, 2011, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
I think it is about time that those in Washington stay in Washington until their business is finished and then you can go on vacation. Those of us that work don’t get the luxuries that those of you in Washington take advantage of. Stay and get the job done.
Posted by: mom | December 22, 2011, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
WheresMyMoney – I wouldn’t worry too much about paying for Bo to fly back and forth to Hawaii. Hawaii has a mandatory, no exceptions, 6 month quarantine period for any animals. Helps keep diseases from wiping out what’s left of the native species. So I highly doubt Bo makes the trip.
Posted by: Steve From NH | December 22, 2011, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
The Dems won’t sign off on the 1 year deal and the GOP is to blame???
Obama and company have got to go!
Posted by: Joseph C. Merrick | December 22, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
Jope and Change. Translation: We can all only Hope (perhaps in vain) that we have some small Change left to jingle in our pockets when Obama’s term is mercifully ended.
Posted by: BraveNewWorld | December 22, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
I must have missed something in Civics class. Where did it say in the Constitution that the President (Executive Branch) was supposed to run the negotiations between the House and the Senate (Legislative Branch)?. All the President is required to do is sign the bill if he likes it.
It’s time these “do nothing” republicans started to take some responsibility for the job the American people elected them to do. Quit whining, blaming the President, get off your butts, forget Grover Norquist and get this done.
Posted by: tmferretti | December 22, 2011, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm
I sure hope Obama can dig his way out the hole he has created for himself.
Posted by: SearamblerOne | December 22, 2011, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
Wasn`t it Obama who first wanted a year extention of the tax credit? So why is he against it now?
Posted by: Mary | December 22, 2011, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
NoSpin1600 : Reid WOULD have and SHOULD have been voted out in 2010, so what happened??? The IDIOTS in the Tea Party happened!! They chose a dimwitted woman named Sharon Angel to run against Reid and she STUNK up the joint SO BADLY that they re-elected Reid which was very smart of them. Thank the Tea Guys AND the Republicans for that – as well as the dysfunctional Government that those that DID get elected from the Tea Party has brought our Nation. They have a very low shelf life and beyond 2012, I’d say most of them will NOT survive and that is GREAT for this Country!!!
Posted by: demNme5 | December 22, 2011, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
John Boehner reminds me of a whiny 4 year old. “Poor me, the President won’t make Harry Reid play with me” He is so immature, maybe Nancy Pelosi will put him over her knee and beat some manhood into him. No President, even reasonable Ronald Reagan could deal with this idiot.
Posted by: tmferretti | December 22, 2011, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
The Republicans want middle-class Americans to pay for the tax cut, unemployment extension, and Medicare bills. Democrats what millionaires to pay for it.
Posted by: Greggw | December 22, 2011, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
WheresMyMoney – I wouldn’t worry too much about paying for Bo to fly back and forth to Hawaii. Hawaii has a mandatory, no exceptions, 6 month quarantine period for any animals. Helps keep diseases from wiping out what’s left of the native species. So I highly doubt Bo makes the trip.
Posted by: Steve From NH | December 22, 2011, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Where are you getting your information?
Dept of Agriculture website:
Effective December 1, 2009 inspection hours for dog and cats at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) will be between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, including weekends and holidays. This information is particularly important for those who are qualifying their pets for direct release at Honolulu International Airport. Pet owners should be sure to arrange for their flights to arrive by 3:30 p.m. because it may take up to one hour for the airlines to transport a pet to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility and animals not arriving at the facility by 4:30 p.m. will not be released at the airport that day. Pets arriving in the late afternoon and evening will be held overnight until inspections are completed the following morning. Pet owners who are arriving in Honolulu and connecting to neighboring islands should pay particular attention to the inspection hours.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | December 22, 2011, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
pass the 1 year house bill now… why all the short term b.s. Just get it done. REALLY!!
Posted by: imamerican | December 22, 2011, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
Let’s face it friends, Obama just doesn’t have the balls to get the job done. I’m as sad and mad as all of you about it.
Posted by: Matt Damon | December 22, 2011, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
So you have an issue with the Republicans wanting to extend tax cuts, why? The government wastes more money than any entity in the world so we want to give them more so they can help everyone, you must be crazy. I don’t care how much money you have or make, giving the government more money is a con and if you believe that millionaires should pay their fair share you are stupid and fall right into what Obama wants you to believe. Wake up people the government is not the answer to our problems they are the cause. Please don’t vote for anyone who doesn’t want a balanced budget, lower taxes, cut government job, salary, benefits etc.
Posted by: Fridge | December 22, 2011, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
It isn’t a negotiation Boehner, if you won’t budge from your positions.
The majority of Americans, including voting Republicans, want those who make over a million a year to have higher taxes.
You and your Republicans buddies aren’t listening to the will of the people and it will have consequences in 2012.
Posted by: Librarian53 | December 22, 2011, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
C’mon, Speaker Boehner. Did you REALLY expect Barack Obama to do his job, even when you ask him? The only things he knows to do are fan the flames of hatred between the classes, read a teleprompter, and try to be cutesy. He’s an empty suit.
Posted by: Stella | December 22, 2011, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
FRIDGE
So anyone that believes millionaires along with every other American should pay their fair share is stupid? I’m not stupid enough to know that giving millionaires every break they want will not create job one and will only make them richer.
The President will sign a two month extension or a one year extension (he prefers); it doesn’t matter as long as the middle class gets a tax break. Harry Reid said he would go for a one year extension, so why does Boehner need a conference committee? Just pass it in the House and send the damn bill back to the Senate for a vote, on to the President, end of story.
Posted by: tmferretti | December 22, 2011, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
I’m very disappointed in the House Republicans on this issue. They may be right on policy, but they’ve allowed themselves to be completely outmaneuvered by Obama and Harry Reid. They seem to think that Obama and the Democrats care about the good of the country. They don’t! All they care about is getting Obama reelected. Every decision between now and next Nov 2012 from the White House and Senate will be 100% political with no regard for what is right for the country. House Republicans had better realize that and decide to fight to win the war, not the individual battles. Doing the right thing for the country up to Nov 2012 will count for absolutely ZERO if Obama wins reelection. 4 more years of Obama and our country will never be able to recover! So pass the stupid 60 day extension and call it a day. Obama has won this one because he doesn’t care about the country! Get over it and move on!!!!!!
Posted by: valwayne | December 22, 2011, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm
tm… i agree with you on this one or at least your last point. however i think when different versions of a bill are passed in the house and the senate they are reconciled in joint committee where a final bill is passed. i think. so that would be why a joint conference is required unless the house scraps their bill and accepts the senate bill which they wont.as you said however the senate could vote on the house bill. seems simple why isnt it getting done?
reagrding taxing anyone , rich or poor anymore than they are now leaves less money in the private sector to spend which creates jobs. the difference is the taxpayers get to decide where they spend their money instead of the government. i would rather chose where i spend my money than any of these dimwits making that decision.
merry christmas to all.
Posted by: catman | December 22, 2011, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
So do you want to give the middle class a year long $1000.00 tax per person break like the Republicans want to do or do you want to go with Obama/Democrats two months plan and give them $167.00 per person. Is Obama just getting testy because he wants to fly off on his lavish Hawaiian vacation while we sit here suffering under his failed policies once again?? Are Democrats really this easily fooled??? Contact your Democratic Senator/House and tell them to pass the year long tax break now!!!
Posted by: whathappened08 | December 22, 2011, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
“I sure hope Obama can dig his way out the hole he has created for himself.”
Posted by: SearamblerOne
My sentiments also. And congrats on your new Hoveround and continued daily posting.
Posted by: LexingtonLady | December 22, 2011, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Both sides are all wet….Make it a one month extension I say!
Posted by: newcountryman | December 22, 2011, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
How can we seriously be talking about a 2 month agreement or even a year agreement when we have not had a budget that the gov’t to work under for more than 2 years. I believe that that should be the first priority and stop playing around with the People’s money with no direction and constraint.
Posted by: Richard | December 22, 2011, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
CATMAN
The Senate republicans wanted a two month bill so they could debate and push the pipeline deal and everything else in March. The idiot in the House, John Boehner, never communicated with Mitch McConnell, so now the House has shot the Senate republicans accidently in the butt and, rightly so, the Senate republicans are p___ed. If the deal goes through for a year, the President won’t have to deal with those debates in March.
Posted by: tmferretti | December 22, 2011, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Let me add that in addition to his excellent big spending, big government policies, which are the only way to go, as Europe has shown, Obama is still hot — I think it’s the ears. I love his large manly ears.
Posted by: tmferretti | December 22, 2011, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
I wonder if the Senate will ever even pass a regular budget. They haven’t in like forever, after rejecting Obam’s silly first attempt. It’s crazy. Lots of trouble for our man Obama, I fear.
Posted by: GrannyNosBest | December 22, 2011, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
I don’t think most people understand what the “tax holiday ” is : If the bill does not pass everyone will have to pay $30 – $40 dollars more into their Social Security fund each month.
Posted by: Josh Brown | December 22, 2011, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
We get it, JOSH Brown, we get it. But just get used to it, since believe me, your taxes will be going up a lot anyway as soon as more of Obama’s wise policies kick in during the next few years. It’s all good for the country it seems.
Posted by: Searambler | December 22, 2011, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Obama asked for a full year deal. The Democrat senate gave him a crappy 60 day deal. House gave him exactly what he wanted, a 1 year deal, figure out how to pay for it at no extra debt to the US citizen and forced his hand on the pipeline deal that will create 20,000 US jobs and he still says no!
Hey Obama, of course its about Politics.
Posted by: smokedsalmoned | December 22, 2011, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm