John Boehner 8TH DISCTRICT OF OHIO

Today, Congressman Boehner called in to Brian Thomas’ Morning Show on Cincinnati’s 55 KRC-AM to discuss Congressional Republicans’ efforts to find common ground with House and Senate Democrats in discussions to address Washington’s out-of-control spending and job-crushing debt.  Boehner reiterated his hope that the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction will come to an agreement that will encourage a better environment for private-sector job growth by stopping Washington’s spending binge, addressing our growing debt, reforming unsustainable entitlement programs, and fixing the tax code.  

Boehner warned that it is time for Congress to “get our job done” and come to an agreement now “on how we are going to take the next stop to solve our debt and deficit problems.” 

Listen to Rep. Boehner and Brian Thomas here:

Boehner on Encouraging the Joint Committee to Reach an Agreement to Address our $14 Trillion Debt:

“If it were easy, Congress over the last two decades would have dealt with this problem instead of kicking the can down the road.  The fact is that it’s hard to get two groups of people, who have two very different ideas about what the size and scope of the federal government should be, to come to an agreement.  I can tell you that the 12 members, Democrats and Republicans - from the House and the Senate - have worked very diligently trying to come to an agreement but they’re not there yet. I expect I will be having conversations with them again today to try to push this peanut up the mountain with our nose.”

Boehner on Finding Common Ground to Reform the Tax Code and Fix Unsustainable Entitlement Programs:

“Well [Democratic leaders] do want revenue and we think if we were reform our tax code – both the business tax code and personal tax code – and bring rates down, and clear out all the exemptions and garbage, that we can create more economic growth and put more revenue on the table.  Republicans are willing to do that.  But we aren’t going to do that unless the Democrats are willing to work with us on meaningful changes to our entitlement programs to make sure they are sustainable for the long term.”