WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y., says he was just venting when he suggested he may vote for Republican House Speaker-designate John Boehner in January.
Owens last week said he would consider abstaining or voting for Boehner rather than back outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi-Calif., when the roll call vote for the office is taken when the new Congress convenes in a few weeks.
He backed off Tuesday, telling the Adirondack Daily Enterprise he would vote for the California Democrat -- whom he supported for minority leader in last week's caucus elections -- as long as she agreed to govern more moderately and focus on jobs, Roll Call reported.
Owens told the Daily Enterprise he made his earlier comments because he was frustrated about not hearing back from either Pelosi or Boehner about a compromise proposal he'd offered for addressing tax cuts enacted during George W. Bush's presidency that expire at the end of 2010.
He is among a group of Democratic lawmakers calling for a five-year extension of tax cuts for families earning less than $250,000 a year and a one-year extension for anyone making between $500,000 and $250,000 a year.
