Bill Manzi.com

House Minority Leader John Boehner indicated yesterday that he would vote in favor of a tax bill that blocked extension of the so called “Bush tax cuts” for those making over $250,000 per year. Boehner was critical of that approach, but said that he would not block tax relief for all other taxpayers in order to ensure that the very top tier continued at the Bush rates. From the Washington Post:

“I want to do something for all Americans who pay taxes,” Boehner said in an interview taped Saturday for “Face the Nation” on CBS. “If the only option I have is to vote for some of those tax reductions, I’ll vote for it. … If that’s what we can get done, but I think that’s bad policy. I don’t think that’s going to help our economy.”

Boehner was clearly uncomfortable with being put into a position where Republicans would block tax relief for most Americans to protect that upper level. Boehner has been the focus of a concerted White House counter-attack on economic policy, and that attack has borne some fruit. The President will get his way on a tax bill, and the verbal tussle will continue between the White House and Boehner. The Twitter war has been ongoing for about a week. It will not abate for some time.

Read the Washington Post story here.

The President ratcheted up his rhetorical assault on Republicans in Ohio yesterday, rejecting the potential for compromise on the Bush tax cuts, and calling for new infrastructure spending and some business tax breaks. The President laid down a political marker by refusing to consider extension of the Bush tax cuts for those making more than $250,000, calling out Republicans for blocking tax relief for those below $250,000. He also called for some additional infrastructure spending, and will include a policy proposal for an “infrastructure bank” to help select and fund projects. Todays Globe editorial strongly supported the President on this. The President kicked around John Boehner pretty good, responding to a Boehner speech a few days ago. Interesting discussion on Morning Joe centered around the wisdom of using Boehner as the foil, because outside his District nobody quite knows who John Boehner is. I was somewhat perplexed by that myself. But in any case the President is digging in, preparing for political battle that will likely mean no legislation of merit, including his recent proposals, will move before the mid-terms. The coming Republican tide will bring a new political equation in Washington, and likely a big staff shakeout at the White House. Can the President hold on by showing that Republicans care more about the top 1 percent, or is too little, too late?

Read the Washington Post story here.