House Speaker John Boehner took told reporters Friday talks with the White House over a “grand bargain” to solve the nation’s deficit and debt problems broke down because President Obama changed the deal at the last minute.
“Let me just say that the White House moved the goalpost,” Boehner said. “There was an agreement, some additional revenues, until yesterday when the president demanded $400 billion more which was going to be nothing more than a tax increase on the American people.”
Boehner’s press conference followed a fiery appearance by Obama, who was visibly angry that Boehner had pulled out of the talks.
But Boehner said it was Obama who had made the deal impossible for him to pass through the tea party-influenced House GOP.
“[Majority] Leader Cantor and I were very disappointed in this call for higher revenue,” Boehner said.
