On Fox News Sunday, Boehner Urges President-Elect Obama to Take Tax Hikes Off the Table
House GOP Leader Highlights Republican Economic Growth Plan to Create Jobs, Lower Taxes for Families and Small Businesses

Washington, Nov 23 - In an appearance this morning on Fox News Sunday, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) highlighted his plan to create jobs and spur a rapid economic recovery through tax relief for families and small businesses and an “all of the above” energy plan, urging President-elect Barack Obama not to raise taxes during his first two years in office as the United States emerges from difficult economic times.  Boehner also pledged that Republicans in Congress will fight Democrats’ efforts to end secret ballot rights for American workers, underscored what he believes Republicans must do to rebuild the Party, and discussed what America’s automakers must do to convince taxpayers that the industry will remain viable.  Following are highlights of Boehner’s appearance and video of the interview:

 

 

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BOEHNER URGES PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA NOT TO RAISE TAXES DURING AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY:

 

“I think American families and small businesses are struggling.  I put an economic stimulus plan out some six or eight weeks ago that basically says, if we’re really serious about creating jobs, what we ought to do is eliminate the capital gains tax for the next two years on any equities that are purchased.  Why not lower capital gains taxes and corporate income taxes for corporations in America to help keep jobs here.  And if we’re really serious about creating jobs in America, why wouldn’t we do the American Energy Act?  Our ‘all of the above’ plan that will create a million new jobs over the next five years and keep more of our energy money here in the United States…  If we want to create jobs now and we want to create certainty now, why wouldn’t we lower taxes?  And, if we really want to help the economy, why wouldn’t we have the President-Elect say, ‘I’m not going to raise taxes on any American my first two years in office.’”

 

BOEHNER PLEDGES TO FIGHT DEMOCRATS’ EFFORTS TO END SECRET BALLOT RIGHTS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS:

 

“If you get more than half of your employees to sign a card, there’s almost an automatic election… It may get delayed, but it’s pretty hard to stop an election.  But even then, only about 30 percent of the elections held want a union.  This is nothing more than a payback to the big labor bosses who spent $400-$500 million of their members’ money helping the Democrats earn their majority in the Congress and buy the White House.  And to take away the secret ballot elections is not supported by union workers, by potential union members.  This is I think an affront to the American people and we will do everything we can to stop it.”

 

BOEHNER ON REBUILDING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BY STANDING ON PRINCIPLE:

 

“The American people have issues, they’ve got concerns, we need solutions.  Solutions to the issues the American people care about that build on our principles.  And I believe that re-energizing our party, re-energizing the idea machine that we used to be is a step in the right direction.  I think our fight on energy last year that lasted three or four months was a very good fight and showed us how to win.  How we could win an issue, how we could grab the attention of the American people and succeed.  So you’ll see a lot of effort on our part to be the party of new ideas.  I don’t think we can be the party of ‘no’.  There are going to be times when we do have disagreements and we do have to say no and be the loyal opposition.  But at the end of the day, I think we have to be the party of new ideas, new solutions, and attract more Americans to our party.”

 

BOEHNER ON PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF AMERICAN TAXPAYERS AS CONGRESS CONSIDERS ADDITIONAL AID FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY:

 

“I think the Detroit auto industry is important to the United States.  It’s important for hundreds of thousands of Americans who have their jobs as a result.  But I talked to one of the CEO’s over a week ago when it was clear they needed the money and they need it now, but I asked the CEO, well, what’s the plan?  And I didn’t get an answer.  I said, you at least have to come in here with a plan and the fact is that I’m not sure that they will have a plan by early December, a real plan.  And on behalf of the American taxpayers, they’re not interested in investing money that’s going to be really thrown away.  And I think Detroit has to come back with a plan in terms of how they are going to pursue talks with their employees, their creditors, their shareholders, the other stakeholders and if at some point there is a role for the federal government to bring about a restructuring of these companies so that they are viable, then we might consider on behalf of the American taxpayers whether it’s a good investment or not.  But I think it is important that they go out and have these meetings with their stakeholders, they have these negotiations and at the end of the day, it’s not about convincing me, it’s about convincing the American taxpayer that they are making an investment in a viable corporation.”

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