The senior Republican on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Representative Dave Camp of Michigan, issued a statement today rejecting President Obama’s plans to help middle class Americans with additional tax breaks for retirement savings, education and child care, which are expected to be outlined in Wednesday evening’s State of the Union speech.

“What will help middle-class families most is creating jobs and reducing the unemployment rate, but these proposals won’t do either,” Mr. Camp said in a statement. “Moreover, if these proposals are coupled with higher taxes or more mandates on small businesses, the President’s plan could end up making it tougher for middle-class families to find a job.”

The quick denunciation of the president’s proposals seemed to signal a broader unwillingness among Republicans to consider Mr. Obama’s policy proposals as the midterm election year heats up and the G.O.P. senses an opportunity to make gains in the House and Senate.



Separately on Monday, the House Republican leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, issued a statement accusing Mr. Obama of defying the will of the American people by saying that he would continue to press for a broad overhaul of the nation’s health care system.

“Less than a week after the Massachusetts special election, the Obama Administration is vowing to ‘stay the course’ and double down on the same costly, job-killing policies that are leaving America’s middle-class families and small businesses high and dry,” Mr. Boehner said.

“This ‘stay the course’ approach doesn’t just apply to a government takeover of health care,” Mr. Boehner continued. “Out-of-touch Washington Democrats remain committed to all their costly, job-killing priorities, including more government ‘stimulus’ spending, a ‘cap-and-trade’ national energy tax and ‘card check.’”

Card-check is a reference to legislation that Democrats have proposed that would make it easier for labor unions to organize. Democrats call that bill the Employee Free Choice Act.