House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) told the Republican Conference on Thursday morning that he will vote “no— on a Democratic bill to recoup money given to American International Group executives, dubbing the effort a “sham.—

“I am not helping with the Democrat’s sham,— Boehner told GOP Members who were huddling on the House floor, according to sources who were there.

Boehner, however, did not instruct his colleagues to follow his lead. And GOP sources said the AIG tax bill was not being whipped.

In a press conference following the Conference meeting, House Republicans characterized the bill as a “coverup.— They charged that Democrats inserted language in the economic stimulus bill that limited the power of the federal government to prevent the executive compensation, and said it was up to the majority to fix the error.

“This today is an attempt to avoid responsibility and avoid accountability,— Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said. “The Democrats got themselves into this situation. Now they are trying to get out of it with Republicans — we have an alternative. They will not allow that alternative to be heard.—

The House is expected to vote on the legislation to recoup the bonus money on Thursday afternoon.