- 12/12/10 07:00 PM ETSpeaker-elect John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in the 112th Congress he will consider a spending-cutting measure a week, starting with the budgets of congressional offices.
Boehner, appearing Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes," said he's going to cut his and all other House leadership budgets, in addition to committee budgets and members' allowances all by 5 percent, resulting in savings of $25 million to $30 million.
"It likely would be one of the first votes we cast," he said.
Although he acknowledged that the cuts represent a small fraction of the more than $1 trillion federal deficit, he said, "You’ve got to start somewhere. And we’re going to start there."Flashing back to his teary speech when the Republicans recaptured the House, Boehner got choked up again when asked why he was "sad" that night."I was talking, trying to talk about the fact that I’ve been chasing the American Dream my whole career," he said, sniffling when he said he wants kids to have the same shot at that dream as he did."And everybody who knows me knows that I get emotional about certain things," Boehner said as the program noted his colleagues know him to even get choked up over legislation.During the interview, Boehner argued that while the nation faces high deficits, "Washington does not have a revenue problem. Washington has a spending problem."
Yet he conceded that adding nearly $900 billion to the deficit under the bipartisan tax compromise that Congress will take up this week is worth it.
"I think it will create jobs and help our economy," he said.
Still, Boehner refused to call the deal, which will extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for two years, reached by the White House and Senate Republicans a "compromise," instead noting his preference for "common ground."
"I reject the word," he said.
"A lot of Americans look up and go, 'Oh, oh, they're going to sell me out.' And so finding common ground, I think, makes more sense."
The next two years could require compromise or the finding of common ground between Boehner, Congress and President Obama on the nation's most pressing issues.
Boehner expressed a willingness to work with the president, possibly even on the golf course, on the agenda.
He called Obama "engaging, certainly smart, brilliant."
"But you know, we come from different backgrounds. And I think our view of the economy is also very different."
He said he and Obama agree on at least one thing: Boehner is the better golfer.
"He understands that," Boehner said.
The leaders have yet to play together although it has been discussed.
"We've talked about it," he said. "We've talked about it a number of times. It just hasn't happened yet."
Speaker-elect John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in the 112th Congress he will consider a spending-cutting measure a week, starting with the budgets of congressional offices.
Boehner, appearing Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes," said he's going to cut his and all other House leadership budgets, in addition to committee budgets and members' allowances all by 5 percent, resulting in savings of $25 million to $30 million.
"It likely would be one of the first votes we cast," he said.
Although he acknowledged that the cuts represent a small fraction of the more than $1 trillion federal deficit, he said, "You’ve got to start somewhere. And we’re going to start there."
Boehner, appearing Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes," said he's going to cut his and all other House leadership budgets, in addition to committee budgets and members' allowances all by 5 percent, resulting in savings of $25 million to $30 million.
"It likely would be one of the first votes we cast," he said.
Although he acknowledged that the cuts represent a small fraction of the more than $1 trillion federal deficit, he said, "You’ve got to start somewhere. And we’re going to start there."
Flashing back to his teary speech when the Republicans recaptured the House, Boehner got choked up again when asked why he was "sad" that night.
"I was talking, trying to talk about the fact that I’ve been chasing the American Dream my whole career," he said, sniffling when he said he wants kids to have the same shot at that dream as he did.
"And everybody who knows me knows that I get emotional about certain things," Boehner said as the program noted his colleagues know him to even get choked up over legislation.
During the interview, Boehner argued that while the nation faces high deficits, "Washington does not have a revenue problem. Washington has a spending problem."
Yet he conceded that adding nearly $900 billion to the deficit under the bipartisan tax compromise that Congress will take up this week is worth it. "I think it will create jobs and help our economy," he said.
Still, Boehner refused to call the deal, which will extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for two years, reached by the White House and Senate Republicans a "compromise," instead noting his preference for "common ground."
"I reject the word," he said.
"A lot of Americans look up and go, 'Oh, oh, they're going to sell me out.' And so finding common ground, I think, makes more sense."
The next two years could require compromise or the finding of common ground between Boehner, Congress and President Obama on the nation's most pressing issues.
Boehner expressed a willingness to work with the president, possibly even on the golf course, on the agenda.
He called Obama "engaging, certainly smart, brilliant."
"But you know, we come from different backgrounds. And I think our view of the economy is also very different."
He said he and Obama agree on at least one thing: Boehner is the better golfer.
"He understands that," Boehner said.
The leaders have yet to play together although it has been discussed.
"We've talked about it," he said. "We've talked about it a number of times. It just hasn't happened yet."
I feel so much better now. John you are such a good man. First you and you other brothers in the hood are going to coat us 875 billion because of you tax deal with Berry. Now you say you plan to cut leadership and committee budgets saving 25 to 30 million. Here is a plan for you cut your pay as well as everyone pay in government by 5%. The only exception to this would be our military for most of our military families can qualify for food stamps. Cut out you life time pay and benefits as well as you paid for by the people health care insurance. You would have to start paying for part of you insurance just like all the other working people. The problem Government they want to tell everyone else what and went to do it with none of it applying to themselves. Government thinks they are better than everyone else.BY on 12/12/2010 at 19:49
Boehner: No tanning salons, no bottle bronze
- 12/12/10 07:07 PM ET
Speaker-to-be John Boehner (R-Ohio) addressed a pressing question in a wide-ranging interview Sunday night on CBS' "60 Minutes": his skin color.
President Obama has even joked about the infamously browned Boehner, quipping, "We have a lot in common. He is a person of color -- although not a color that appears in the natural world."
Boehner's wife, Debbie, said on the program that he's been dark even before their 37-year marriage began.
"Listen, I've never been in a tanning salon in my life," Boehner said. "I've never used a tanning product in my life."
Boehner talked about his skin in a different respect when addressing the jabs between him and Obama, particularly when the president accused the minority leader of holding Americans hostage to secure tax-cut extensions for the upper income brackets.
"I've got thick skin," Boehner said. "And a lot of words get said here in Washington. You just have to let 'em run off your back. The president was having a tough day."
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