Speaker Boehner: Democrats Refusing To Negotiate Puts Country At Risk
This morning Speaker John Boehner appeared on ABC News’ This Week to talk about President Obama’s government shutdown and his opposition to lifting the debt ceiling without any fiscal reforms.
Speaker Boehner made clear that by refusing to sit down and negotiate with Republicans, Democrats are putting the full faith and credit of our country at risk.
As provided by Speaker Boehner’s Press Office, here are excerpts from the interview.
Boehner: Senate Democrats Rejected House Bills to Keep the Government Running & Treat All Americans Fairly Under ObamaCare, Won’t Negotiate
“[T]he House has passed four bills to keep the government open and to provide fairness to the American people under Obamacare. And even after the Senate has rejected — they’ve rejected all four of them. And even after the four rejections, we asked to sit down with the Senate and have a conversation. They said, no.”
Boehner: We Need Fairness for All Under ObamaCare
“Obamacare is a law that’s going to raise the cost of health insurance premiums and make it almost impossible for employers to hire new people. It’s a law the American people do not want and cannot afford. … Providing fairness to the American people, under Obamacare, is — all we’re asking for. My goodness. They give big businesses a waiver. They give all these unions a waiver. And yet they’re forcing the American people to buy a product, buy a product that they do not want and cannot afford.”
Boehner: President Obama Is Risking Default By Not Negotiating Like Past Presidents
“The debt limit is right around the corner. The president is saying, I won’t negotiate. I won’t have a conversation. Even though, President Reagan negotiated with Democrats who controlled the Congress back then. Even though President George Herbert Walker Bush had a conversation about raising the debt limit. During the Clinton administration, there were three fights over the debt limit. You and I participated in several of those. And even President Obama himself in 2011, went through a negotiation. Now, he’s saying no. I’m not going to do this. I’m going to tell you what, George. The nation’s credit is at risk because of the administration’s refusal to sit down and have a conversation. … The votes are not in the House to pass a clean debt limit. And the president is risking default by not having a conversation with us.”
Boehner: It’s Time to Deal With America’s Spending Problems
“It is time to deal with America’s problems. How can you raise the debt limit and do nothing about the underlying problem? … [W]e’ve spent more than what we’ve brought in for 55 of the last 60 years. This year, the federal government will have more revenue than any year in the history of our country, and yet we’re still going to have a nearly $700 billion budget deficit. We’re squandering the future for our kids and our grandkids, by not dealing with this problem. … I’m willing to sit down and have a conversation with the president. But his refusal to negotiate is putting our country at risk.”