Boehner Won't Support Tax Hikes to Avoid Sequestration

Demands spending cuts

Speaker John Boehner is signaling he will not accept revenue increases that President Barack Obama is expected to propose to delay the automatic spending cuts that take hold at the beginning of March.

"President Obama first proposed the sequester and insisted it become law," Boehner said in a statement. "Republicans have twice voted to replace these arbitrary cuts with common-sense cuts and reforms that protect our national defense.

"We believe there is a better way to reduce the deficit, but Americans do not support sacrificing real spending cuts for more tax hikes," he added. "The president's sequester should be replaced with spending cuts and reforms that will start us on the path to balancing the budget in 10 years."