Nice try, but no go, Boehner.

Nice try, but no go, Boehner.

“The Republican letter released today does not meet the test of balance. In fact, it actually promises to lower rates for the wealthy and sticks the middle class with the bill. Their plan includes nothing new and provides no details on which deductions they would eliminate, which loopholes they will close or which Medicare savings they would achieve. Independent analysts who have looked at plans like this one have concluded that middle class taxes will have to go up to pay for lower rates for millionaires and billionaires. While the President is willing to compromise to get a significant, balanced deal and believes that compromise is readily available to Congress, he is not willing to compromise on the principles of fairness and balance that include asking the wealthiest to pay higher rates. President Obama believes—and the American people agree—that the economy works best when it is grown from the middle out, not from the top down. Until the Republicans in Congress are willing to get serious about asking the wealthiest to pay slightly higher tax rates, we won’t be able to achieve a significant, balanced approach to reduce our deficit our nation needs.”

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer issued this statement via e-mail in response to the proposal from House Republican leadership.In other words, bogus tax "reform" that actually cuts tax rates for the wealthy isn't going to fly.

And this just happened, too.



@damianpaletta via web Bowles disavows 2011 proposal after Boehner offers it to White House. Bowles says "circumstances have changed" since he offered it in '11

The proposal floated by Boehner & Co. was based on some ideas Erskine Bowles had given the Super Congress last year. He's not going to be providing them any cover now.



Bowles's full statement, via e-mail:

