John Boehner 8TH DISCTRICT OF OHIO

“The IRS admitted to targeting conservatives, even if the White House continues to be stuck on the word ‘if.’ My question isn't about who is going to resign. My question is who's going to jail over this scandal?”

Congressman Boehner sat down with Peter Cook of Bloomberg TV and Rich Edson of Fox Business this evening to continue pressing the need for policies - including fixing our broken tax code, expanding American energy, and addressing America’s fiscal crisis – that will produce the type of sustained, robust economic growth and job creation American families and small businesses need.  Here are a few excerpts from the interviews: 

On the Republican Plan to Get the Economy Moving Again:

“Republicans have a plan to get our economy going again, get wages growing again and get job opportunities growing again.  Things like fixing our long-term spending problem, fixing our broken tax code to make America more competitive.  How about expanding American energy production and the Keystone Pipeline? There are a lot of things.  The red tape – in many cases, it’s the president’s own policies that are getting in the way of growing our economy.” (Bloomberg)

On the President’s Policies Holding Back Economic Growth:

“The president wants to go out there and crow about the fact that the economy is growing, barely.  This is not the kind of economic growth that – that’s going to help our country long term.  You've got wages that are stagnant.  You have few opportunities of, if you will, walking up the economic ladder. … I used to run a small business.  I know exactly what small businesses are thinking.  They’re looking at ObamaCare.  They’re looking at all these rules and regulations, an outdated tax system, and they’re scared to death.  And when they’re scared to death, you know what they do?  They sit on their wallet and wait for the picture to clear.” (Bloomberg)

On the Need to Simplify the Tax Code to Boost U.S. Competitiveness:

“But I do know that the president understands that our tax system is broken.  Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle understand that our system is broken.  We need to simplify our code, bring the rates down, get rid of the loopholes, and fix our international problem.  We can make America more competitive if we had a tax code that people understood.” (Fox Business)

On There Being No Reason to Continue Blocking the Keystone Pipeline:

“There is no reason for Keystone not to be approved.  None.  Do you realize there are almost 200,000 of pipeline that operate safely in the United States every day?  This is an important part of our energy future.  Taking the crude oil from North Dakota, Southern Canada and moving it to where the refineries  are on the Gulf Coast.  We can do it safely, there’s no reason – no reason – why it should not be approved.” (Fox Business)

On the Need for a Balanced Budget:

“The federal government has spent more than what it has brought in for 55 of the last 60 years.  This year we’ll have the highest amount of revenue to our government we’ve ever had in our history and yet still have a trillion dollar budget deficit.  We have a long-term spending problem that has to be resolved, and it will be resolved.  And so, I don’t know what it’s going to take.  Republicans put our budget out, passed it back in March.  Democrats passed a budget in the Senate.  Our budget balances over the next 10 years.  The Democrats’ budget and the president’s budget never come to balance.  And if they don’t ever come to balance, well then you can continue to keep spending money you don’t have.” (Fox Business)

“With the House budget, Republicans have shown that the federal government can, and must, do more with less. We can get spending under control and achieve a balanced budget if the president and Washington Democrats come to the table willing to make the same tough choices American families and small businesses are making every day. These hardworking Americans must balance their budgets, and Washington owes it to them to do the same.”

Republicans are doing more with less to fix the budget
By: Rep. John A. Boehner
May 5, 2013 09:42 PM EDT
POLITICO

Monday night, hardworking moms and dads will gather around their kitchen tables, parsing the bills one by one to budget for gas, groceries, mortgage payments, a school trip, a child’s birthday party. Small-business owners do the same every day — poring over their books to find ways to cut costs without cutting jobs. As the slowest economic recovery of the past half-century grinds on, Americans are making sacrifices to make ends meet. They’re doing more with less and, as the stewards of the people’s House, Republicans are keeping their pledge to do the same.

Recently, House Republicans announced that — after three years in the majority — we are on track to save taxpayers more than $400 million and counting on House operations. The cost-cutting began from the very first vote our new majority took: cutting our own budget by 5 percent. Since that time, House committees have trimmed more than 23 percent off their budgets, and individual offices have cut back by more than 18 percent. House officers, including the clerk, sergeant at arms and chief administrative officer, are also doing more with less. These spending cuts have all been achieved without the need for furloughs and without compromising the promise we made of a more open and accountable government.

While the White House chose to shut its doors to tourists, the U.S. Capitol has remained open to the American public. Security has been enhanced to help keep our visitors safe. And we have improved transparency with open government initiatives like providing new access to legislative documents and data and streaming House floor and committee hearings live online.

After years of higher spending and less transparency when Democrats controlled the House, Republicans have not only changed the trajectory of spending in our own House budget, we’re working to change the culture of spending in Washington, too.

Over the years, both parties routinely stuffed thousands of earmarks into massive spending bills, symbolizing a Congress that had broken faith with the people. Before the House gavel even changed hands, Republicans adopted an earmark ban to eliminate wasteful spending and help restore the public trust. That earmark ban remains in place today.

Republicans have led efforts to pass legislation — reluctantly signed by the president — to cut federal discretionary spending and eliminate and consolidate dozens of ineffective and duplicative federal programs. But with our national debt creeping closer to $17 trillion every day, much more still needs to be done. That’s why Republicans are working to balance the federal budget.

Last month, the House passed a budget that balances over the next 10 years by cutting wasteful government spending, fixing our broken Tax Code to help create new jobs and increase wages, and protecting and strengthening important priorities like Medicare. More than 180 economists agree that reining in spending-driven deficits and balancing the budget are key to fueling stronger economic growth and job creation.

Unfortunately, President Barack Obama has missed another opportunity to lead. His budget never balances, and calls for a $1.1 trillion tax hike to pay for new government spending. Under the president’s budget, America will have run deficits at or near a trillion dollars for five years straight, continuing the same failed policies that are holding back our economy and putting the American dream further out of reach for future generations. If an administration can’t even take basic steps to control government spending, how realistic is it to think it is capable of pulling off the much more difficult task of getting our economy growing at full speed again?

With the House budget, Republicans have shown that the federal government can, and must, do more with less. We can get spending under control and achieve a balanced budget if the president and Washington Democrats come to the table willing to make the same tough choices American families and small businesses are making every day. These hardworking Americans must balance their budgets, and Washington owes it to them to do the same.

John Boehner (R-Ohio) is speaker of the House of Representatives.

“We are determined to get to the truth regarding the terrorist attack on our Mission in Benghazi, Libya, in which four Americans lost their lives.

“Last year, I directed five Committees to look at various parts of this investigation. Next week, these committees will provide a comprehensive progress report on the investigation up to now. This progress report will NOT represent the conclusion of their investigation, but it’ll be the beginning of what I would describe as the next phase. 

“This is a matter of national security and national importance, and our investigation will in fact continue.”

“I don’t think words can express our sorrow for the families that are grieving today as a result of what happened in Boston.  The whole House yesterday offered our moment of silence, but our whole House continues to pray for the victims and their families. 

“We also give thanks to the professionals and Good Samaritans who helped to prevent further loss of life.  I’ve ordered the flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff in tribute to the victims and their families. 

“It was a terrible day for all Americans, but we carry on in the American spirit, we will come together with grace and with strength.”

Just like ObamaCare, our tax code is a complicated mess that hurts small business owners, young workers, and families. The president’s health care law alone added 21 different tax hikes totaling more than $1 trillion, including a tax on life-saving medical devices that is forcing companies to close up shop and ship jobs overseas.

As Boehner notes, the tax code and all of its regulations, annotations, and explanations total 74,000 pages – or roughly four Red Tape Tower-sized stacks. Simplifying our tax code, closing loopholes, and lowering rates for everyone will help create new jobs and increase wages. Scrapping ObamaCare and its “whopping 7 feet, 3 inches high” tower of red tape will help too. (the balanced budget passed by Republicans aims to both repeal ObamaCare and fix our tax code)

Click here for more on the effort to fix our tax code and let us know what you think should be done in the comments below.

This is Senator McConnell’s infamous “Red Tape Tower.”

It’s 20,000 pages high, seven feet tall, and includes all of the regulations generated by the president’s health care law.

Now take a good look. Now picture this: FOUR of these.

Our tax code is four million words long. Add to that the regulations, explanations, annotations, and more, and there are 74,000 pages.

And just like ObamaCare, our tax code is a headache for families and workers, and it’s a nightmare for small business owners.

That’s why Republicans want to fix it.

Our balanced budget not only repealed ObamaCare and its 21 tax hikes – it laid the groundwork for a fairer tax code.

Closing tax loopholes and lowering rates will mean more jobs, higher wages, and a stronger economy.

Be sure to follow The Red Tape Tower on Twitter.

And visit speaker.gov to tell me what you think should be done to fix our tax code.

“I am proud of my Catholic education; it has helped define my character, strengthen my morality and make me the man, husband, father, and grandfather I am,” said Rep. Chabot, who represents Ohio’s First Congressional District.  “From my elementary days at Holy Family and St. Catherine's, to my high school years at LaSalle, my Catholic education has cultivated my virtues and taught me to stand up for what I believe is right.  It has taught me fortitude, humility and optimism.  Quite simply, I would not be the man I am without my Catholic education.”

“I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to receive a faith-based education from St. Xavier, where I was taught the importance of true virtue and service – the foundation of what empowers our youth to become leaders who make positive change in the world,” said Rep. Wenstrup, who took office in January as the new representative of Ohio’s Second Congressional District.  “My high school experience taught me the value of integrity and leading by example.  These lessons have helped me tremendously throughout my career.”

"I am proud to stand with fellow graduates of the Greater Catholic League who represent the values of not only my hometown of Cincinnati but also America as a whole,” said Rep. Radel, a first-term representative serving Florida’s 19^th Congressional District.  “I also want to give a shout out to my alma mater, Elder High School.  Go Panthers!"

“I have 11 brothers and sisters, and one of the greatest gifts my parents gave us was the gift of a Catholic education,” said Boehner, one of 12 siblings, all of whom attended Cincinnati-area Catholic schools.  “My brothers and I all went to Moeller, and it made a big difference in our lives.  I’m proud to join with my colleagues and fellow Cincinnati-area Catholic high school grads in celebrating our region’s proud tradition of excellence in Catholic education.”