Speaker John A. Boehner has offered to let tax rates rise on income over $1 million in return for entitlement changes in fiscal cliff negotiations with President Barack Obama, according to news reports.

The offer is the first time the Ohio Republican has agreed to allow a rate increase, signaling that talks aimed at heading off the tax increases and automatic spending cuts due to take effect at the start of next year were picking up steam. Boehner reportedly made the offer Friday in a phone conversation increase for higher earners in exchange for significant cuts in entitlement programs.

Boehner’s office, the White House and other congressional sources declined to comment, but spokesmen for the Speaker did not deny the offer had been made.

“The lines of communication remain open, but there is no agreement, nor is one imminent,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said.

“We’re certainly not going to comment on rumors,” said Brendan Buck, another spokesman for Boehner.