House Speaker John Boehner slammed President Barack Obama on Wednesday for refusing to get the Democratic-controlled Senate to pass legislation to create more jobs for Americans.
"President Obama ought to pick up the telephone and call the Senate Democratic leaders who are blocking nearly 40 House-passed bills to help our economy grow and create more American jobs," the Ohio Republican said in an op-ed piece in
The National Review.
Calling it "Civics 101," Boehner continued: "Congress is composed of two Houses. In one of them, the House of Representatives, we are making the American people’s top priority — jobs and the economy — our top priority.
"We’re passing pro-growth bills to cut red tape, expand American energy production, improve our broken tax code, and lower healthcare costs."
But the Senate "has done almost nothing on jobs legislation this year," Boehner said. "Traditionally, the president — as the leader of his political party — would take some responsibility for that."
He noted that, as of last week, the House passed 284 bills that the Senate "has failed to act on. It has passed four times as many bills as the Senate.
"Of the 120 bills President Obama himself has signed into law, only 27 percent came from the Democratic-controlled Senate," Boehner said.
The House has passed half of the 12 annual spending bills that keep the government running, the speaker added.
"We still have work to do, but the Democratic Senate has not passed a single one."
Boehner said that during floor debate on the spending legislation, House Republicans have been blocked from offering amendments, while House members voted on 161 amendments offered by Democrats.
"Frankly, it is somewhat striking what we have been able to accomplish in the face of unprecedented Senate gridlock," he observed.
"We want to get more done — much more. There are dozens of good, common-sense steps we can take right now to help the private sector create more American jobs.
"That is why we hope the president will stop complaining at pep rallies, take this up with Senate Democrats, and call on them to act," Boehner said.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.