Boehner to Pursue Second Legislative Track on Taxes

December 18, 2012 RSS Feed Print

This Nov. 29, 2012 file photo shows House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington.

By JIM KUHNHENN and JULIE PACE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just two weeks before the economy-threatening "fiscal cliff" is due to kick in, House Speaker John Boehner opened up a second legislative track to stop tax hikes from kicking in on Jan. 1 for people making up to $1 million a year.

Boehner aides said the proposal, which the speaker presented to his caucus Tuesday morning, does not mean the Republican is cutting off negotiations with President Barack Obama on averting the full slate of tax hikes and spending cuts due to take effect next year. Obama and Boehner have each made significant concessions in recent days, signaling a new stage in the negotiations.

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Boehner's latest move is an attempt to give Republicans political cover if Washington fails to reach a deal before the end of the year and taxes increase on all income earners. The White House had no immediate response to Boehner's 'Plan B' proposal, but has previously rejected his attempts to extend tax cuts for families making up to $1 million.

However, the president has dropped his long-held insistence that taxes rise on individuals earning more than $200,000 and families making more than $250,000. He is now offering a new threshold of $400,000 and lowering his 10-year tax revenue goals from the $1.6 trillion he had argued for a few weeks ago.

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Obama and Boehner met privately at the White House on Monday, and then spoke again on the phone later that night.