Boehner Press Briefing Highlights

Via email:

On Iraq:

"And I think, for a lot of my colleagues, they don't grasp that the fight in Iraq is more than what happens there. This is part of a larger fight, a global fight, against radical Islamic jihadists who have waged war on the United States and our allies.

We didn't start this war; they did.

You know, while Iraq might be the most visible front in this global war against these terrorists, fleeing Iraq doesn't mean the war's going to end. We're still going to have these global jihadists intent on killing Americans and our allies.

And so, as we get into this debate next week, we believe that victory is the only option, and that fleeing Iraq will only provide a safe haven for terrorists, possibly access to their oil revenues, a further destabilizing of not only Iraq but the greater Middle East, and many of us believe that if we were to bring our troops home, they're just going to turn around and follow us here to America.

I believe that winning is vital to our national security interests, and in protecting the American people.

The second part of this is that we have not seen their resolution yet, but everything that's been written about it thus far indicates that it's a nonbinding resolution opposing the president's new plan.

Now a nonbinding resolution is nothing more than political theater that means nothing. And I believe that it demoralizes our troops in the field. And if they're really serious about their intent to bring troops home, why not bring a real resolution to the floor and have a debate about whether, in fact, they should cut funding or not.

I think the American people deserve a plan from the other side. If they don't like what the president's plan is to reinforce what's going on in Iraq , to reinforce the Iraqi troops in Baghdad , then what is their plan?"

On Speaker Pelosi's request for a larger plane:

"I think that it's clear, after 9/11, that the White House suggested to Speaker Hastert that he fly a military aircraft because the speaker is, in fact, third in line to the presidency. And so I think having access to a plane for the speaker to travel to and from their district, is appropriate.

I think the questions that have been raised about friends, supporters, relatives, other members flying with her are where the concerns lie, and appear to me to be requests that's a bit over the top."

On a balanced budget:

"I'm pleased that the president submitted a plan that will balance the budget over the next five years without raising taxes. And I think that balancing the budget should be the number one job of Congress, and not raising taxes ought to be our number one priority.

The economic surge that we've had in the United States as a result of the tax reductions in '01 and '03 have led to a very dynamic economy that has created over 5 million new jobs, 5 million new taxpayers. And the increase in revenue that we're seeing as a result will, in fact, help us balance the budget if we're willing to hold the line on spending.

But the key here is holding the line on spending and making sure that we don't slow down the economy.

Now, if we are in fact able to come up with a plan that will balance the budget over the next five years without raising taxes, it means more disposable income for American families. It'll mean lower prices for basic consumer goods that'll help hold down the cost of living in America for American families.

And it also means lower interest rates."