John Boehner and others said the Senate 'must act.' GOP leaders huddle over fiscal cliff

House Republican leaders Wednesday said the Senate needs to act first on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff, hinting they would not bring the House back into session until Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moves something through his chamber.

( Also on POLITICO: Poll: Fears of a cliff dive mount)


The statement — from House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers — said if the Senate “will not approve and send them to the president to be signed into law in their current form, they must be amended and returned to the House.”

( Also on POLITICO: Starbucks' plan to brew a cliff deal)

“Once this has occurred, the House will then consider whether to accept the bills as amended, or to send them back to the Senate with additional amendments,” the statement read. “The House will take this action on whatever the Senate can pass, but the Senate first must act. The lines of communication remain open, and we will continue to work with our colleagues to avert the largest tax hike in American history, and to address the underlying problem, which is spending.”

Late Wednesday, Senate Democrats fired back, saying House Republicans should pass a bill that would extend tax rates for income below $250,000. “The Senate bill could pass tomorrow if House Republicans would simply let it come to the floor,” said Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Reid.

It comes after House Republican leadership held a conference call Wednesday, as a stalemate over the fiscal cliff continues. On Thursday, all House Republican lawmakers will have a conference call with leadership.

The call was limited to top GOP leaders, not the full House Republican conference, according to several sources. Leaders communicate frequently by conference call when the House is out of session. No decisions were made on the call.

Right now, the GOP position on the fiscal cliff is that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs to move a bill to avert the fiscal cliff or else he’s abdicating his duties. That line will be played on repeat this week, aides say.

In a few days, tax rates jump on all income levels and federal spending cuts take hold. And late Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told Congressional leadership the nation’s statutory borrowing cap would be hit on Dec. 31. “Extraordinary measures” would allow the federal government to continue borrowing money for two months. But the fiscal cliff standoff throws even that calculation into flux.

But top Republicans also need to discuss whether to bring the House into session. GOP leadership has promised lawmakers a 48-hour warning if they decide to convene. That means the absolute earliest the House can come back would be Friday, if the warning was given Wednesday. But weather in Washington is dreadful and it's the height of the holiday travel season. Sources say it’s still possible the House returns before Jan. 1.