McMorris Rodgers Rejects Boehner Plan: Raising Rates 'Doesn't Solve Problem'

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the incoming chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, says she opposes House Speaker John Boehner’s offer to raise taxes on wealthier Americans to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.

“Raising those top two rates is really a straw man. It doesn’t solve the problem,” the Washington State congresswoman told C-Span on Sunday.

“We could raise the top rates to 100 percent and it would fund the government for 91 days.

“It’s a false promise.”

Boehner has offered to raise tax rates on those making more than $1 million as part of a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff in exchange for reforms to entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, the New York Post reported.

President Obama wants to raise rates for those earning more than $250,000.
If Obama and Congress can’t agree on a plan by Jan. 1, $600 billion in higher taxes and spending cuts will automatically take effect.

Under current law, the 35 percent top tax rate is scheduled to expire on Jan. 1, and would automatically go to 39.6 percent - where it was during the Clinton administration.