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| John Boehner: 'no substantive progress' made with White House on fiscal cliff | John Boehner: 'no substantive progress' made with White House on fiscal cliff |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Republican leader John Boehner has shot down reports that Washington is nearing a solution to the year-end fiscal cliff budget crisis, saying there has been "no substantive progress" over the last two weeks. | The Republican leader John Boehner has shot down reports that Washington is nearing a solution to the year-end fiscal cliff budget crisis, saying there has been "no substantive progress" over the last two weeks. |
| "Jobs are on the line, the American economy is on the line, and this is a moment for adult leadership. The White House has to get serious," Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives, said after meeting treasury secretary Tim Geithner on Capitol Hill on Thursday. | "Jobs are on the line, the American economy is on the line, and this is a moment for adult leadership. The White House has to get serious," Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives, said after meeting treasury secretary Tim Geithner on Capitol Hill on Thursday. |
| Boehner's comments came amid reports of a breakthrough in negotiations to avert the year-end imposition of tax hikes and massive spending cuts. In a nationally televised statement on Wednesday night, president Barack Obama said: "Our ultimate goal is to get an agreement that is fair and balanced." The president also said that he hoped to "get this done before Christmas". | Boehner's comments came amid reports of a breakthrough in negotiations to avert the year-end imposition of tax hikes and massive spending cuts. In a nationally televised statement on Wednesday night, president Barack Obama said: "Our ultimate goal is to get an agreement that is fair and balanced." The president also said that he hoped to "get this done before Christmas". |
| Boehner, who has spoken to Obama twice in recent days, met Geithner on Thursday in the hope of averting a crisis that economists have warned could push the US back into recession. The two parties are at loggerheads – with the Democrats pushing for tax hikes for the rich and Republicans calling for deep government spending cuts – as they attempt to tackle the US's $16tn debt. | Boehner, who has spoken to Obama twice in recent days, met Geithner on Thursday in the hope of averting a crisis that economists have warned could push the US back into recession. The two parties are at loggerheads – with the Democrats pushing for tax hikes for the rich and Republicans calling for deep government spending cuts – as they attempt to tackle the US's $16tn debt. |
| At a press conference in Washington, Boehner said: "I'm disappointed about where we are and I'm disappointed about where we've been over the last couple of weeks. | At a press conference in Washington, Boehner said: "I'm disappointed about where we are and I'm disappointed about where we've been over the last couple of weeks. |
| "Based on where we stand today – first, despite the claims that the president supports a balanced approach, the Democrats have yet to get serious about real spending cuts. And secondly, no substantive progress have been made in the talks between the White House and the House over the last two weeks." | "Based on where we stand today – first, despite the claims that the president supports a balanced approach, the Democrats have yet to get serious about real spending cuts. And secondly, no substantive progress have been made in the talks between the White House and the House over the last two weeks." |
| His statement came after Geithner met Republican leaders including Boehner, House majority leader Eric Cantor and the former vice-presidential pick and House budget committee chairman Paul Ryan, in his latest attempt to forge a budget consensus. | His statement came after Geithner met Republican leaders including Boehner, House majority leader Eric Cantor and the former vice-presidential pick and House budget committee chairman Paul Ryan, in his latest attempt to forge a budget consensus. |
| Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, was dismissive of Boehner's remarks. "I don't understand his brain," he said after his own meeting with Geithner. | Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, was dismissive of Boehner's remarks. "I don't understand his brain," he said after his own meeting with Geithner. |
| Reid added: "Democrats are all of the same page. For two weeks we have been waiting for a serious offer from Republicans." | Reid added: "Democrats are all of the same page. For two weeks we have been waiting for a serious offer from Republicans." |
| Obama and Boehner spoke for 15 minutes on Wednesday night. Obama had spent part of the day discussing the crisis with business leaders. | Obama and Boehner spoke for 15 minutes on Wednesday night. Obama had spent part of the day discussing the crisis with business leaders. |
| On Thursday, Obama had lunch with his former presidential rival Mitt Romney, amid rumors that he was considering Romney's proposal to cap tax breaks for the rich. The White House said the lunch was private. | On Thursday, Obama had lunch with his former presidential rival Mitt Romney, amid rumors that he was considering Romney's proposal to cap tax breaks for the rich. The White House said the lunch was private. |
| Boehner's suggestion that a compromise was far from certain were echoed by other Republicans. "It is not going to happen soon," Senator John Barrasso told Fox Business News. | Boehner's suggestion that a compromise was far from certain were echoed by other Republicans. "It is not going to happen soon," Senator John Barrasso told Fox Business News. |
| Stock markets largely shrugged off the latest posturing from Washington, remaining broadly flat at lunchtime. | Stock markets largely shrugged off the latest posturing from Washington, remaining broadly flat at lunchtime. |
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