Boehner On The Radio: Democrats Resorting To "Chicago-Style Politics" To Ram Unpopular Jobs-Killing Agenda Through Congress

Statement

Today during a radio interview with Brian Thomas on 55KRC (Cincinnati), Congressman John Boehner discussed the "Chicago-style politics" the majority party is employing to ram its unpopular jobs-killing agenda into law, and highlighted Republican initiatives to bring much-needed transparency and openness to Congress. Boehner also criticized Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) plan for a government-run "public option," arguing it distracts from a bill that will result in Medicare Cuts for seniors, higher taxes, and is just the first step in a slippery slope toward single-payer government-run health care. Following are excerpts from the audio. To listen to the interview in its entirety, click here.

Boehner Discusses Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Plan for a Government-Run "Public Option"

"I don't see any provision that allows Medicare recipients to opt-out of Medicare cuts, nor do I see an opportunity for taxpayers to opt-out of paying higher taxes. This is just some smoke and mirrors to try and convince Senate members to vote for this."

"We are only talking about one little piece of the bill. We still have 53 boards, commissions, agencies, mandates and bureaucracies in this bill. It is going to require tens of thousands of new government employees. All of this is the camel's nose under the tent, if you will, toward a single-payer government-run health care system."

Boehner Says Democrats' Closed-Door Health Care Negotiations Ought to be Open to the Public

"One of the reasons why we are going to continue to push this transparency agenda is that the American people need to know about what happens in our government. They ought to have 72 hours to read a bill before it comes to the floor of the house, bills that come out of committee ought to be posted online within 24 hours, how members vote in committee ought to be posted within 48 hours. We call it the 24-48-72 agenda, and we still believe that these negotiations that are going on with regards to health care ought to be ought to be out in the open, the American people ought to see the conversations and the discussions -- I'd like to see it myself."

Boehner Decries "Chicago-Style Politics" Majority Party is Using To Ram Its Unpopular Jobs-Killing Agenda Through Congress

"They know that their agenda is not popular with the American people so what they are going to do is demonize their opponents. This is Chicago-style politics. These people are engaged in a political fight that is truly beneath the dignity of the President of the United States and members of Congress. We can have a civilized debate and argue the merits or demerits of these proposals, and we ought to do it in a way that informs the public, and doesn't create these distractions."

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