John Boehner, Republicans stand ready to work with Democrats to extend the payroll tax break and unemployment insurance VIDEO

Washington (Dec 1) At his weekly press conference, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) reiterated that Republicans stand ready to work with Democrats to extend the payroll tax break and unemployment insurance, but reaffirmed that it must be done in a fiscally-responsible way to protect Social Security and avoid compounding the crippling debt problems facing our nation. Speaker Boehner also highlighted House action on three additional jobs bills this week, and urged President Obama to call on Senate Democrats to act on these, and more than 20 other bipartisan, House-passed jobs bills awaiting action.

BOEHNER: REPUBLICANS READY TO WORK WITH THE PRESIDENT TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON JOBS, PAYROLL TAX BREAK EXTENSION:

“Republicans told the president back in September that we are ready to work with him to find common ground on jobs, including an extension of the payroll tax cut and extending unemployment insurance. And that offer still stands. The key question is: how do we pay for it?

“When the president used a joint session of Congress in September to announce his plan, he promised the American people that every penny would be paid for – including the extension of the payroll tax break. And Democrats in Congress have also conceded that it should be paid for.”

BOEHNER: PAYROLL TAX BREAK MUST BE PAID FOR TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY:

“It’s important that the payroll tax cut be paid for because that money is used to fund the Social Security Trust Fund, which is already facing imminent bankruptcy. Unlike other taxes, the payroll tax is used to fund Social Security. As such, the revenues that the payroll tax generates are already dedicated to a specific purpose. Revenue collected via the payroll tax finances benefits for current and future retirees. And any drop in revenue resulting from a temporary reduction in the payroll tax that is not paid for will harm the Social Security Trust Fund and accelerate the program’s looming bankruptcy.

“So Republicans agree that we need to focus on jobs, but we need to do it in a way that doesn’t harm Social Security or add more to the country’s already large deficit. Americans know we can’t get our economy moving and create jobs without dealing with Washington’s out-of-control spending. Republicans are ready to work with the President and the Democrats to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance temporarily, but they must be offset with spending cuts elsewhere.”

BOEHNER: HOUSE HAS PASSED MORE THAN 20 JOBS BILLS THAT ARE STUCK IN THE DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED SENATE:

“This week, Republicans are taking several more steps in order to help create jobs and boost our economy. The House will pass three additional jobs bills to help create a better environment for private-sector job creation. This is in addition to the 20 bills that we already have sitting over in the United States Senate. Our plan to help America’s job creators – we’ve got some of these enacted into law through both chambers, but there’s 20 bills sitting over in the United States Senate.”

BOEHNER: PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD CALL ON SENATE DEMOCRATS TO VOTE ON BIPARTISAN, HOUSE-PASSED JOBS BILLS:

“And I would urge the president to call on the Senate to allow votes on these bipartisan bills, and ensure that they receive a fair vote in the Senate. So we hope the president will put his partisan politics aside and urge the Senate to move these bipartisan bills as quickly as possible.”

TEXT CREDIT: Speaker Boehner H-232 The Capitol Washington, DC 20515 P (202) 225-0600 F (202) 225-5117

IMAGE CREDIT: JohnBoehner