Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) said today that despite earlier suggestions that House Republicans might not attend President Obama’s health care reform summit unless certain demands are met, he’ll “absolutely” show up to the meeting.
After Obama announced the summit, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Cantor sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, which said that “if the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be reluctant to participate.”
On Fox News, however, Cantor put to rest the idea that they won’t participate: “We’re gonna show up cause we want to continue to reflect what the American people are asking for.”
“We have stood ready for the past year to work alongside” Democrats, he said, but “we’re not interested in a dog-and-pony show to trumpet failed bills.”
When asked again if House Republicans would attend, Cantor responded: “Absolutely. Republicans have always said we stand ready and willing to work with the president.”
