House Speaker Boehner defends GOP's 'go slow' approach

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker John Boehner Thursday said congressional Republicans will lead but go slow on immigration, tax reform and healthcare reform.

"We'll lead," Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters at his weekly Capitol Hill news conference, "and our members will not shy away from advancing better solutions for the American people."

The press conference was reported by the Washington publication The Hill.

Boehner criticized President Obama for turning away from an ambitious legislative agenda and said the House GOP would go slow on legislation to avoid repeating the past mistakes of Democrats.

During his State of the Union Address in January, President Obama pledged to use executive orders whenever he could to get around the gridlock on Capitol Hill.

Boehner said Republicans have to face the reality of limited power and again attacked the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, passed in 2010, recalling that then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi told lawmakers they would have to "pass the bill, so you can find out what's in it."

"That's not a very good way to legislate," he said.

Boehner would not commit to calling votes on any major legislation this year, the Hill said. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., unveiled a draft proposal for simplifying and overhauling the U.S. tax code Wednesday.