Republicans have long said that tax cuts don’t need to be paid for because they pay for themselves in greater economic growth, but House Minority Leader John Boehner refused to use the talking point Sunday.

NBC’s David Gregory engaged Boehner in a tense back-and-forth over former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s comments last week that the Bush tax cuts should be allowed to expire, and that tax cuts don’t pay for themselves.

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Asked if he agreed with Greenspan, a long-time fiscal hero of conservatives, Boehner sidestepped the question.

“The only way to get our economy going again and solve the budget problems is to get the economy moving, get more people back to work where they can care for their own families, and begin to expand the tax rolls to bring more revenue for the federal government,” began Boehner. “What we have to do is we have to get our arms around the spending spree that’s going on in Washington, DC.”

“You’re not being responsive to a specific point, which is how can you be for cutting the deficit and also cutting taxes as well when they’re not paid for?” asked Gregory.

“Listen, you can’t raise taxes in the middle of a weak economy without risking the double-dip in this recession,” replied Boehner, still not answering the question.

“That’s not the question. Are tax cuts paid for or not?” pressed Gregory.

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“You’re trying to get into this Washington game and their funny accounting over there,” said Boehner.

This video is from NBC’s Meet the Press, broadcast Aug. 8, 2010.



