WASHINGTON (AP) — Some conservative House Republicans are making life difficult for Speaker John Boehner as he reaches for a “fiscal cliff” pact with President Barack Obama. They insist they will oppose any deal that increases taxes.
In the recent words of Rep. Jeff Landry of Louisiana, “If there’s any blame to be placed, it’s squarely on his shoulders.”
Other conservatives, however, are giving Boehner room to negotiate. They say they might accept a tax increase for people with high incomes so long as the deal also includes significant spending cuts.
In the words of Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi, Texas, “We don’t see how we have a whole lot of leverage.”
Those different views after GOP setbacks in last month’s election are testing conservatives’ leverage in influencing any deal.
