Boehner Declines to Endorse Camp’s Tax Reform (Updated) (Video)
Hours ahead of the rollout, Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio declined to endorse Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp’s plan for a rewrite of the country’s tax code.
Pressed repeatedly on whether he supports the bill that the Camp, R-Mich., will unveil Wednesday afternoon, Boehner said only that it is a “discussion draft” that will begin a “conversation” about the issues.
“Jesus,” he said exasperatedly, when asked whether the plan would be voted on this year. “We’re going to start the conversation today, and I expect the members and our constituents and the American people to take part in the conversation.”
Boehner in previous years had labeled tax reform one of his top priorities — and it was a key feature of his failed grand bargain talks with President Barack Obama. Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., poured cold water on the chances of anything happening on the issue this year.