HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Washington, Jan 16 - In an appearance last evening on PBS’ Newshour, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) warned against attempts on Capitol Hill to borrow and spend our way back to prosperity – a failed philosophy at the heart of the economic proposal unveiled yesterday by congressional Democrats.  Rather than spending more than a half a trillion dollars on new government programs, Boehner noted that Republicans are seeking to work with President-elect Obama on a plan that lets middle-class families and small businesses keep more of what they earn in order to get the economy moving again and create good-paying, long-lasting jobs on behalf of the American people.  House Republicans – who yesterday held a hearing with economic experts to help shape their blueprint – plan to provide President-elect Obama their ideas for an economic recovery proposal in the coming days, part of a continuing GOP effort to be “the party of better solutions.”   Following are highlights of Boehner’s appearance and video of the interview:   

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BOEHNER DISCUSSES THE CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS’ MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING PLAN:

“[T]here’s over a half-a-trillion dollars worth of [new] spending. And it looks like 14 years worth of liberal Democrat ideas that were stuck in the back of a cabinet somewhere. And it’s not the kind of spending, in my view, that will stimulate our economy, create jobs, and, more -- even more importantly, preserve jobs that are out there today.  I just believe that, if we’re going to help American families and small businesses, we need to leave more money in their hands, tax less, let them make good decisions with what they can do with more of their own money to create jobs and keep jobs.”

BOEHNER HIGHLIGHTS THE HOUSE GOP’S EFFORTS TO WORK WITH PRESIDENT –ELECT OBAMA ON A PLAN TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY AND CREATE NEW JOBS:

“But, if you look at a lot of the spending, it’s – it’s not going to create jobs. And that’s what this plan is intended to do -- except that it doesn’t do it. And the level of -- of tax reductions that are – that’s in this package are less than the president-elect has called for.  So, we have to remember, now, this is the congressional Democrat plan. This isn’t Senator Obama’s plan. And, so, I’m hopeful that we are going to continue to work with him to move a package quickly that is responsible, that will help preserve jobs and create new jobs.”

BOEHNER ON REPUBLICANS’ PLANS TO LET FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES KEEP MORE OF WHAT THEY EARN:

“I think that we need more in tax relief.  The more money we allow to stay with American families and small businesses, they will make good choices with that money. They're either going to spend it or they're going to save it, both of which are good for the economy.  And -- and -- and we would actually preserve and create more jobs more quickly that way.”

BOEHNER ON REPUBLICANS AS THE PARTY OF BETTER SOLUTIONS:

“[W]hat we're attempting to do is, we want to work with the new administration. There probably will be times where we can. There will be times where we will disagree. But, when we disagree, we’re not going to be the party of no.  We want to be the party of better solutions.  And I have pushed our members rather strongly that we don’t want to be out there whining, and we don’t want to be out there just being the party of no, that we have better solutions, and, if we do, let’s put them out there.”