WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican in the House says a recent proposal by GOP members of a special deficit committee is a “fair offer” despite criticism from conservatives who say it breaks the party’s pledge on taxes.
House Speaker John Boehner (BAY’-nuhr) says it’s important to reform the tax code to lower tax rates and clear away numerous tax breaks to make America more competitive. But he also says the details of how that would be achieved “are yet to be worked out.”
A GOP proposal to the supercommittee last week called for a net tax revenue increase of almost $300 billion in exchange for significantly lowered tax rates. But the plan has gotten a cold shoulder from GOP presidential hopefuls like former Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
The deficit panel remains deadlocked.
