Boehner Disses Obama Plan as Not 'Pro-Growth'

He also renews his call for a simplified tax code
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 15, 2011 2:24 PM CDT
Boehner Disses Obama Plan as Not 'Pro-Growth'
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio talks about the economy during an address at the Economic Club of Washington, Sept. 15, 2011.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

John Boehner took his first swings at the Obama jobs plan today, calling it “a poor substitute for the pro-growth policies that are needed to remove barriers to job creation in America.” Boehner criticized the "host of new tax credits" it proposes, which he complained would “make the tax code more complex” at a time when members of both parties are pushing to simplify it, the Hill reports. Boehner delivered his remarks to the Economic Club of Washington. He said the tax system needed to be reformed, and called on the deficit “supercommittee” to do it.

“It’s probably not realistic to think the joint committee could rewrite the tax code by Nov. 23,” he conceded. “But it can certainly lay the groundwork.” He reiterated that Republicans remain staunchly opposed to tax increases, and warned the committee against them. Boehner said he wasn't opposed to "reasonable" spending on infrastructure, notes Politico. “But if we want to do it in a way that truly supports long-term economic growth and job creation, let’s link the next highway bill to an expansion of American-made energy production,” he said. “Removing some of the unnecessary government barriers that prevent our country from utilizing its vast energy resources could create millions of new jobs.” (More John Boehner stories.)

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