In a new statement issued on behalf of Republican leadership, incoming House GOP Majority Leader Eric Cantor blasts the Democratic plan to have a vote on extending current tax rates on all income below $250,000:
"We will do everything in our power to stop President Obama and Speaker Pelosi from raising taxes on working families, small business people, and investors. Raising taxes in this environment is a non-starter for me and millions of American small business people who are struggling to keep the lights on and meet their payroll obligations.
"The legislation that Leader Hoyer announced he'd bring before the House would raise taxes on many small business people and families. That is a non-starter. A bipartisan majority of the House would support a clean bill to ensure that no American faces a tax increase in this difficult economic environment. We call on Speaker Pelosi and President Obama to allow all members of the House -- Republican and Democrat -- to vote on legislation that would prevent tax increases for every American."
This is one hell of a softball for Democrats: if Cantor really wants to do "everything" in his power to stop a tax hike for "working families" he'll vote yes on extending tax cuts to middle-income families. If he votes no, then he's the one trying to raise taxes -- not the other way around.
Update: John Boehner also has released a statement echoing Cantor:
“The last thing our economy needs right now is a massive tax hike on families and small businesses — and that’s what the House Democratic leaders’ plan would mean. We will oppose their job-killing tax hike and do everything we can to stop it. Republicans made a pledge to America to permanently stop all of the tax hikes scheduled for January 1st, and that’s what we’re going to fight for. Extending all of the current tax rates, and making them permanent, will reduce the uncertainty in our economy and help small businesses create jobs again.”
It's pretty obvious Republicans are afraid of a straight up-or-down vote on extending middle-income tax cuts. But they had an opportunity to work out a deal by meeting with President Obama and congressional Democrats at the White House yesterday. And instead of sitting down at the table, they turned their backs. Now they're going to have to explain why they oppose extending tax cuts on all income below $250,000. And the only explanation that they can offer is that they're hostage-takers.