Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) said Sunday that legislation to extend middle income tax cuts would pass the House if it’s brought up. Cole, a deputy majority whip, has argued recently that his party should relent on the issue — for now.
His exchange with host Candy Crowley on CNN’s “State of the Union”:
CROWLEY: Congressman, what is the art of the doable here for Republicans?
COLE: Well, the first thing that’s doable is to take the things you agree on and get them off of the table.
CROWLEY: And that would be tax cuts for people…
COLE: …get it done.
CROWLEY: In your caucus, do you have a lot of — is there a lot of burgeoning Republican support for that?
COLE: Yeah, honestly I think if it got to the floor, it would carry.
CROWLEY: Ah, well in the House that’s the big deal, though, is getting it on the floor.
COLE: I think it would. Look, that’s my judgment, but I spend a lot of time counting votes and looking around. But this doesn’t say we’re going to raise taxes on anybody, it says OK this group for sure, your taxes aren’t going up. Get that done with, get it over with.
