Fiscal Cliff,  John Boehner

The House Fiscal Cliff Strategy: Shut Up and Pass a Bill

Boehner and Obama What Should the GOP House Do About The Fiscal Cliff?

epublican House Speaker John Boehner and President Obama at the White House on November 16, 2012

Earth speaking to Republican House Speaker John Boehner on the “Fiscal Cliff” – shut up and pass a bill. You are not winning the discourse with the President.

I told you before what to do and it is very simple.

Pass an extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut and block its automatic rise from 4.2 percent of wages to 6.2 percent. To raise that tax now and scoop off the discretionary income of most of America’s families in this anemic economy makes no sense economically or politically.

The House should then vote to extend the Bush tax cuts for another year, with a pledge to do tax reform — lowering tax rates in return for culling, cutting or capping deductions for the well-to-do in the new year.

Then let Harry Reid work his will. If the Senate votes to let Social Security taxes rise, let Harry and his party explain this to the middle class that gets hammered in January. If the Senate votes to let the Bush tax cuts lapse for those over $200,000, decide in the caucus whether to negotiate — or to go home for Christmas and New Year’s.

As for the automatic sequester that would impose $100 billion in cuts next year, half in defense, do nothing. Let it take effect. The budget has to be cut, and while these cuts are heavy on defense, the depth and mixture can be adjusted in the new year.

Another week has gone by and nothing really has happened, except Obama has been beating up on the Republican brand. Boehner, you are not going to be doing any better than the above.

So, just do it and get it over.