http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/801-economy/117715-obama-shifts-into-campaign-mode-and-blasts-boehner-gop-on-economy(snip)
Obama accused Boehner (Ohio) and congressional Republicans of promoting fear instead of constructive economic policies, and said the Republican leader had laid out no new ideas or policies in his own address.
(snip)
“Millions of jobs were lost before our policies even had a chance to take effect — a hole so deep that even though we’ve added jobs again, millions of Americans remain unemployed,” Obama said.
The president criticized Republicans, who “have said no to just about every policy I’ve proposed since taking office,” and he questioned why they are opposing small-business tax cuts and loans.
Obama also dug in on his opposition to extending former President George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
(snip)
“So let me be clear to Mr. Boehner and everyone else: We should not hold middle-class tax cuts hostage any longer," Obama said. "We are ready, this week, to give tax cuts to every American making $250,000 or less. For any income over this amount, the tax rates would go back to what they were under President Clinton. This isn’t to punish folks who are better off — it’s because we can’t afford the $700 billion price tag.”