Republicans are not willing to let Democrats go over the fiscal cliff and take all of us with them – at least, not without a good fight.
Just the sound of it – going off the cliff – echoes disaster. But that is where we’re heading if Congress doesn’t act to extend the Bush tax cuts or avoid the automatic spending cuts that will go into effect Jan. 1.
Little can be expected to be resolved over the next month as Congress takes off for its annual five-week August recess.
However, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) vowed Wednesday to call the House back into session to cement approval if Senate takes action to prevent fiscal cliff. The GOP has made its commitment to averting the fiscal cliff crystal clear and is encouraging the Democrats to work out some kind of agreement.
“If the Senate follows the House in passing legislation to stop the entire tax hike-including the small business tax hike-in a manner that requires House approval before it can be sent to the president, it is our commitment that the House will reconvene immediately to ensure the measure is enacted at the earliest opportunity. But, in order to avert the threat to our economy, the Senate must join the House in acting to stop the entire tax increase,” Boehner and three other House GOP leaders wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
