Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

John Boehner talks jobs, State of the Union

Details

  • Description

    Speaker of the House on 'Fox News Sunday'

  • Duration 15:04
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Republican campaign it's easy to overlook there's still a country -- Iran.

President Obama delivers his state of the union speech Tuesday night seated directly behind -- will be the man pushing the GOP agenda.

Speaker of the house John Boehner and this has -- -- welcome back to FOX News Sunday.

Chris always going to be -- President Obama has made it clear that part of his campaign for reelection is to go after the do nothing congress in fact.

He's already doing let's watch.

When congress refuses to -- And as a result -- our economy and puts our people at risk.

But I have an obligation as president.

To do what I can without them.

Question how will you counter that line of attack.

-- Thirty jobs bills passed over the last year in a Republican House -- prisons that are sitting in the United States and thirty.

Our focus over the last twelve months has been on jobs our focus over the course of the next twelve months it's gonna be -- jobs.

The president asked us to extend the payroll tax credit.

Make sure that over extended unemployment -- insurance with reforms.

And make sure that doctors that dealt with Medicare patients.

Were adequately reimbursed.

And asked us to go for a year we -- a freighter.

It was the United States senate who decided we're just gonna do -- for two months we can't agree on on how we're -- going to offset these cost.

And so what does kick the can down a road uh oh we've done our job of for the American people -- the fact is this -- The president's policies have failed.

To get our economy moving again as a matter of fact it's the president's policies of that it actually made our economy works okay it's time for a new direction.

Here is the problem several studies found that that the congress this last year twenty.

A -- and has been one of the least productive ever let's take a look.

You pass then on I say you mean the congress the house and the senate eighty laws last year and 20% of them.

-- to name a federal building or.

Other housekeeping measure and here -- the latest polls the president's job approval is at 46%.

Congressional Republicans.

19%.

Isn't mr.

Obama -- rightly or wrongly isn't he winning the battle for public opinion.

Is the measure of the job the congress does the number of laws that we passed.

Well think it's a measure what is most Americans think -- got to -- laws already all what did what did that -- -- -- -- this year that was significant.

Let us not Zomorodi not a gun -- that what help our economy grow again but none of those got -- Look at the United States we're doing what the American people -- asking us to do I made a commitment a year ago when I was sworn in as speaker.

That our job was to listen to the American people on the follow their will and that's exactly what we're doing.

About the real facts are that the president's policies have failed to get our economy moving him -- effective is they've made it worse.

The fact is also -- and I'm not saying your right and the senate is wrong or vice Versa.

But the fact is I don't have to tell you the art of legislating is the art of compromise and nothing got done nothing got done -- of those jobs bills.

And the question people are asking -- is particularly in election year when you're already saying Obama's policies make things worse well any thing.

Get done in Washington as if the president will listen to his own jobs council.

And the report that they issued this week.

Many of the ideas and a president's phone jobs council are bills who have already -- In the house such that.

Take.

The issue of infrastructure.

That we need they'd probably have big problems well our highways and roads.

A way to get those things done we look at -- suggestion boarded an infrastructure is part of his jobs bill you look at the the regulatory.

Of bills and pass the house same kind of suggestions coming up from the president's own jobs council let's slowdown in a regulatory arm -- can now Washington.

They talked about fundamental reform of our tax -- absolutely critical of America's going to be competitive and we're gonna have -- -- jobs for hardworking American taxpayers.

But.

Big event Tuesday night the state of the union and we know some of the broad outlines of what the president is gonna -- at the state -- -- and let's go through them.

More help for the middle class such as aid for people going to college or -- we're having problems financing their home.

Income inequality -- demand the wealthy pay more taxes.

And once again he'll propose a grand bargain to cut the deficit and avoid that one point two trillion dollars an automatic triggers.

Do you see a compromise on any of those issues.

It up Lederer read a lot about -- presence gonna talk about Tuesday night.

It has sounds to me like the same old policies we've seen more spending.

A higher taxes more regulations.

Of the same policies that haven't helped our economy and they've made it worse and if that's what the president is gonna talk about Tuesday night I think it's pathetic.

I think it's time the president to listen to his own jobs council it's time to go in a new direction.

We need -- and the regulatory nightmare this coming out of Washington Serbian has a wet blanket over our economy.

We need to work to fundamentally change her -- what you're saying no grand bargain on the deficit.

Chris I've tried.

-- brightness down tried harder to come to the -- over the president.

Over solving our long term deficit problem.

And the -- -- -- the president would never say yes to fundamental reform of our tax -- He asked for more revenue I told the president I'll put revenues on the table but only if we're gonna have fundamental reform of our entitlement programs.

The president would never say yes and then -- wanted to trillion dollars -- a new taxes.

The problem in Washington is there's too much spending we've got -- -- -- arms around it.

The Republicans in the house and senate are committed.

To real reform of our entitlement programs and real controls on spending near Washington.

What about to took -- to talk about an immediate measure what about extending the payroll tax cut.

Holiday for a full year not just the two months runs at the end of February and are you was part of that going to attach the Keystone Pipeline.

Approval of the Keystone Pipeline to a deal.

House already passed a bill.

Other public stand the unemployment.

-- program and the payroll tax credit for your -- It was also what reasonable reductions in spending most of them come -- from the president's own budget.

I'm hopeful the -- get this finished as soon as possible.

The Keystone Pipeline.

Is the prime example of a shovel ready project.

That -- -- approval process in Washington.

Every option -- on the table we're gonna do everything we can but to try to make sure that this Keystone Pipeline is in fact approved.

It's 20000 direct jobs it's over 100000.

Indirect jobs.

And has more energy independence for America.

As opposed to forcing.

Our friends across the border in Canada a Toronto pipeline up to the Pacific Ocean and sell -- to the Chinese.

Well you say all the options are on the table you saying -- you may link the Keystone Pipeline to extending the payroll -- solid night but we met.

But as I said all options -- on the -- -- now.

Here's an -- question because what you did this last time is he just sad.

You have to disapprove but again in two months and he just proved it again as he -- before why not demand.

That if he wants the payroll tax cut he has to approve it.

-- as it comes whether you want the payroll tax cut through the pipeline goes whether all options are on the table.

So you're suggesting it might not just be because quite frankly it seems like just a political statement -- did you know he can disapprove it and is.

Measure goes so you're saying that you might.

Demand approval as a price for.

The Keystone Pipeline.

Is a bipartisan.

Issue in the congress Democrats and Republicans in the house and senate a lot of people -- want this pipeline built.

And the president is to say -- Well -- -- cure this but I'll do it after the election I don't want to irritate him by who might think about voting for.

This the president knows that the number one issue an American.

Is jobs.

And here's an example 20000 direct jobs over a 100000 indirect jobs and it's time for the president to say yes and as I said.

All options are on the table.

Will the house passed a budget.

This year and will -- have serious entitlement reform in it again.

Such as last year's proposal by Paul Ryan for premium supports is a way to.

Change and reform Medicare well doubles one option on how we could -- save Medicare.

There are other ideas -- poll.

-- Ryan and Ron Wyden Democrat senator from -- I came up with a bipartisan proposal.

But the idea here is that we've got to make changes to Medicare otherwise it will not be there.

For seniors who -- so we will we will do a serious budget.

But also remember that on Tuesday it it'll be 1000.

Days since the United States senate passed about.

1000 days and they have yet to pass a budget.

How do you deal with our long term fiscal problems we have if you refuse to come to an agreement on a budget.

So I wanna make players because there had been some thought that maybe because of the -- that you guys took last year you -- -- pass a budget you are gonna pass a budget again this year of course we are and how do you prevent Democrats from turning it again particularly proposals like entitlement reform into a political punching bag.

As they did last year in October members every -- if you do the right things for the right reasons for the right things will happen but we're about.

At a retreat that.

You house Republicans just held in Baltimore you personally kept talking about.

-- side holding this president accountable.

And making this next year a referendum on.

Barack Obama's policies.

It it it sounds to me and I'm sure like to a lot of people like -- basically saying this whole year is going to be politics.

But no not at all I do think that it's part of our job.

In the congress -- to hold the administration accountable.

His policies have in fact made our economy worse.

Our job Vista it in order to change those policies is to help people understand.

What the policies are and how they've made the economy works that's our job -- we're going to -- our job.

A -- in addition to that we do believe the fundamental reform of the tax here it is important.

Other American energy and infrastructure jobs that.

Will be on the floor here in the next months.

That will open up American energy production use those -- royalties.

To fund our aging roads and bridges.

So there's a lot of work that is going to be done and if the president will listen to his own job skills that there will be an awful lot of unanimity.

Between the bills were passed you don't -- his own jobs councils calling for.

President Obama.

Said this week in an interview that you two got along -- he likes playing golf with you but -- at a -- -- -- No matter how much we opted -- he'd Boehner.

Have trouble getting his caucus to go along with doing the responsible thing -- a whole bunch of issues over the past year.

And there is the speaker a perception out there -- miscues made that that you would like to make.

A deal which are being held captive.

By the 87.

Freshmen.

In your house caucus -- forcing -- not our freshman.

The fact is going to be held captive by other people we have some we have some members who always wanna do more than -- a -- wanna do more to.

But that that's not really an accurate statement.

What the problem is is giving the president -- serious.

It's -- president -- becomes an agreement on some of them.

I only got ever probably -- Kennedy -- -- an epic congress now he wants to shove off his own responsibility.

Up for the lack of an agreement on on me of my ability to deliver.

-- the president -- it comes in arraignment I have no doubt of the week you get unanimity -- and bipartisan support.

In the end.

US house representatives and for that matter the -- A number of members of your caucus including a lot of those Tea Party freshman.

Knows you -- news to you were very unhappy with you for what they said was -- the two month payroll tax cut extension.

Down their throats.

Have they agreed to go slower have you agreed to go faster.

Us and -- bad though a lot of talks last year about how the year ended.

Our focus this year government out of our retreat is on jobs.

As you mentioned earlier.

Legislating is about the art of the possible.

The art of the possible.

Is to try to find some common ground -- this White House.

The American people won't care about Democrats or Republicans I don't care about the squabbles -- get warm and I don't care about our ideological.

Corners will be -- -- the other they have they expect us to find enough common ground to be able to move forward.

And and my job is to work -- the president and work with my colleagues on both sides of the to do what the American people wants to do.

Create Georgia.

How are you convinced that your caucus goes along without -- the art of the possible not the art of the ideal -- assure him.

Finally you're number two house majority leader Eric Cantor is suggested this weekend at the retreat that he'd like to see the presidential race and sooner rather than later.

Because he said that it's important that the Republicans put up a clear choice against Barack Obama.

Does Newt Gingrich is victory yesterday and I'm not singling him out he just -- -- win but the fact that there's probably -- be -- longer rougher tougher primary.

Does that hurt Republicans.

Why -- the fact that we've that's for your primaries.

One caucus in 2 primary elections -- we have three different winners.

I think it shows the vibrancy.

Of the Republican Party.

Though while he ever -- I'd rather have an over sooner rather than later.

The fact is is that those who show up in Republican primaries -- the country are going to choose our candidate not going to be chosen by -- people Washington.

Not to be chosen by me to -- chosen by Republican vote.

And I trust the judgment of Republican voters some and I'm as anxious as anybody else to see who our nominee is going to be.

Speaker -- wanna thank you so much for coming in today -- will be watching you sitting.

Right behind the president on Tuesday night I'll be right in my chair.

I need to mean do you have any problems about possibly falling -- -- The senate is out of now.

Do you do something you pinch yourself provide the your -- argues do not want to be the issue and so I can tell you all about the fact of the president's him.

You just sit there and look -- with this this is because thank you very -- -- as always.

Load More