WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner said Sunday he is willing to go along with President Barack Obama's push to let tax cuts for the wealthy expire.
The Ohio Republican made it clear on CBS's "Face the Nation" news program he wants to see a continuation of the George W. Bush-era tax cuts for everyone, even those in the highest tax bracket, but would go along with Obama's plan reluctantly.
"If that's what we can get done," he said. "But I think that's bad policy. I don't think that's going to help our economy.
"If the only option I have is to vote for those at $250,000 and below, of course I'm going to do that. But I'm going to do everything I can to fight to make sure that we extend the current tax rates for all Americans."
Boehner said he also wants to see federal spending trimmed.
"If ... we cut spending, we will help our economy," he said. "We will send signals to the markets. We will send signals to the business community that Washington's attempting to get its fiscal house in order."
Asked if he thought a vote could take place before the midterm elections in November, Boehner replied: "I don't control the agenda on Capitol Hill. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid do. And I would hope that there would be an open debate, an open process."
The White House responded positively, but cautiously, to Boehner's overture.
"We welcome John Boehner's change in position and support for the middle class tax cuts, but time will tell if his actions will be anything but continued support for the failed policies that got us into this mess," Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
Tax cuts for the middle class, those making less than $250,000 a year, and the top 2 percent of U.S. wage earners are due to expire next year. Obama says the country can only afford to extend the cuts for the middle class.
