House Republicans sounded a new tone of urgency over the “fiscal cliff” negotiations on Wednesday, with one party leader saying the “next 72 hours are critical” for President Obama to show he wants an agreement.
“We put an offer on the table. The president now has to engage,” the third-ranking House Republican, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), told reporters after a closed-door conference meeting. “I think the next 72 hours are critical. If he sits back and continues to play politics, that’ll give you the answer to where we’re going. This is an opportunity for the president.”
Obama and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) have not met since the two sides exchanged offers in the last week.
The Speaker defended the House GOP’s $2.2 trillion proposal, which calls for $800 billion in new revenues without raising tax rates on the wealthy.
“The revenues we’re putting on the table are going to come from – guess who? – the rich,” Boehner said at the press conference. “There are ways to limit deductions, close loopholes and have the same people pay more of their money to the federal government without raising tax rates, which we believe will harm our economy.”
For more on Boehner's comments, click here.
