Boehner Loses Control of the House

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Nov. 29, 2012
All Rights Reserved.                                         

       Trying to negotiate in good faith with Democrats on the impending “fiscal cliff,” House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) found out that 56-year GOP Party boss Grover Norquist still controls rank-and-file Republicans.  Before the negotiations started, Boehner expressed openness to increasing taxes on earners making over $250,000 a year, a key campaign promise of recently reelected President Barack Obama.  When Boehner started to show flexibility, Norquist and his band of “No Tax” fanatics dug in their heels, refusing to raise taxes.  “No substantive progress has been made in the talks between the White House and the House during the past two weeks,” said Boehner, watching the Dow Jones Industrials nosedive.  Most economists predict, without some way to avert the expiring tax and spending cuts, the economy will plunge into a double-dip recession in 2013.

            Instead of giving Obama his due after his Nov. 6 landslide over GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, House Republicans, led by Romney’s running mate House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, have insisted on slashing Medicare and Social Security.  Ryan sank Romney’s chances in 2012 talking about his plans for reforming the nation’s popular entitlement programs.  Now the 42-year-old Wisconsin lawmaker  threatens to send the U.S. economy careening over the “fiscal cliff.”  Unable to accept the results of the election, Ryan now resumes his role as the Obama-basher-in-chief, preventing the president from implementing his economic plan.  Ryan and other fiscal conservatives are still stuck in the ‘80s on Reganomics where tax cutting became a religion.  Unable to reduce budget deficits since Clinton in 2000, Supply Siders haven’t yet accepted reality.

            Unable to control the House, Boehner has become a feckless leader, beholden to Norquist and other “No Tax Pledge” conservatives in Congress.  “Revenue is only on the table if there are serious spending cuts that are part of this agreement,” said Boehner, signaling the GOP’s intent of slashing Medicare and Social Security.  Instead of accepting the will of voters Nov. 6, the House now insists on overturning the results of a national election.  Romney and Ryan’s promise to cut Medicare and Social Security was rejected decisively on Nov. 6.  GOP House leadership no longer speaks for mainstream Republicans that count just as much on Medicare and Social Security as Democrats.  Boehner knows the American people voted for Obama’s program yet has no control over recalcitrant House members more loyal to Grover Norquist than their constituents or the U.S. Constitution.

            Blaming the failed negotiations on Obama and the Democrats turns logic on its head.  Millions of Americans cast their ballots on Nov. 6, reelecting Obama.  How any Republican can hold the “fiscal cliff” hostage on entitlement reform, shows the strong-arm tactics used by the House’s disgruntled majority.  While Boehner caved into a House run amok, he knows that no legislation has a prayer of passing the Democratically controlled U.S. Senate.  Insisting on entitlement reform practically guarantees a recession in 2013.  Voters have to wait for the midterm elections in 2014 to punish Republicans in the polls, handing the House back to Democrats.  Republicans would have to live on a different planet to believe voters would hold Obama accountable for not caving in on entitlement reform.  GOP leaders know that Americans voted for Obama’s economic program on Nov. 6. 

            When Obama met today for lunch with Romney hopefully they discussed how to manage the “fiscal cliff” discussions.  If Republicans really wish to protect small businesses, they could exempt self-employed small businesses from the tax hikes, while simultaneously closing loopholes for wealthy taxpayers.  While entitlements certainly add to today’s budget deficits, they should be left out of discussions on expiring Bush-era tax and spending cuts.  Most economists echo the views of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, who warned Congress against slashing spending to keep the economy moving.  House plans to slash spending would plunge the nation into a double-dip recession.  Instead of fixing the problem, cutting federal spending would toss thousands of workers into unemployment.  Voters saw the logic Nov. 6 when they voted to reelect the president.

            Faced now with the very real possibility that the “fiscal cliff” will torpedo the U.S. economy, the stock market has already showed signs of deterioration.  If taxes increase after the New Year, it only makes sense that it will stifle consumer spending—accounting for two-thirds of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.  To keep the economy rolling in 2013, the government must continue spending and hold middle class tax cuts to pre-recession levels.  “I don’t understand his brain,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), referring to Boehner’s insistence on entitlement reform together with the “fiscal cliff.”  Unable to wrench GOP House members from Norquist’s “No Tax Pledge,” Boehner no longer controls the House.  Behind the scenes, the vanquished Paul Ryan continues his crusade to reform Medicare and Social Security.  Ignoring the results of the election, Ryan takes his job seriously.

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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