House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) accused President Obama of "picking fake fights" with congressional Republicans.
"He is diminishing the presidency by picking fake fights and going after straw men every day," Boehner said in a recorded interview on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.
Boehner said the push for the "Buffett Rule," which would have required millionaires to pay a minimum tax rate, was a "gimmick."
He also claimed the president is going after manipulation in the oil markets without "one shred of evidence" that it is responsible for the high gas prices.
Boehner also pointed to the debate over extending the student loan rate, again accusing Obama of attempting to create a dispute "when there is no fight."
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CNN host Candy Crowley pressed Boehner on why he has insisted that Congress pay for extending the low student loan rate by cutting a fund for preventative healthcare. Obama has threatened to veto the Republican bill over the healthcare cuts.
"For you all to zero in on something in the healthcare bill, is that not in itself political?" Crowley asked.
Boehner argued that Obama's own budget called for reductions in the fund.
Crowley said Democrats argue Congress should pay for the student loans by closing tax loopholes for oil companies and that slashing the health fund would cut services for women's health.
"That is just nonsense," Boehner said. "There is no women's health issue here."
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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) hit back at Boehner's claims. In a statement released Sunday, the DCCC said "the Republican budget, authored by Congressman Paul Ryan, would allow interest rates for student loans to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1."
"More than 7 million students and their families would face on average about $1,000 in extra costs if these loan rates rise," the DCCC statement said.
This story was updated at 12:06 p.m.
