GOP to be blamed for plunging off ‘fiscal cliff’

GOP to be blamed for plunging off ‘fiscal cliff’: If Republicans don’t go along with calls by President Obama for higher taxes and the nation goes off a “fiscal cliff,” then the GOP is to blame, says a Democratic congressman.

“We face a fiscal cliff,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., on CNN. “They (Republicans) face a very important question on this fiscal cliff. Are they going to drive off the fiscal cliff with the message that nobody in the country gets tax relief unless very high income earners get a bonus tax break? That’s the message they want to send to the American people. I just think it’s unsustainable.”

Van Hollen is among those who favor tax increases as a way to reduce the national deficit.

“The president’s talked about it, combination of cuts but also revenue,” he said. “And it’s very clear from the exit polling that a majority of Americans recognize that we need to share responsibility in reducing the deficit. That means asking higher income earners to contribute more to reducing the deficit.

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