Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
House Passes "Fiscal Cliff" Deal To Raise Taxes On Wealthy Americans
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 2, 2013
Modified Jan 2, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty Images
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 2, 2013
Modified Jan 2, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last night, the House of Representatives passed legislation to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff," voting 257 to 167 to not increase taxes on most of Americans while raising the taxes of the wealthiest to Clinton-era levels. The Washington Post reports, "House Speaker John A. Boehner (Ohio) and most other top GOP leaders took no public position on the measure and offered no public comment before the 10:45 p.m. vote. Boehner declined even to deliver his usual closing argument, leaving House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) to defend the measure as the 'largest tax cut in American history.'"
Well, the tax cut is for everyone making under $400,000 (single income)/$450,000 (household income). President Obama was still glad a deal was made, even though everyone knew about it for 17 months, saying last night at 11:20 p.m., "The one thing that I think, hopefully, the new year will focus on is seeing if we can put a package like this together with a little bit less drama, a little less brinkmanship, and not scare the heck out of folks quite as much." If a deal hadn't been made, previously scheduled tax increases would have been in effect, which economists said would prompt a recession.
Eighty-five Republicans voted for the measure (PDF), along with 172 Democrats (see the vote breakdown here), while 151 Republicans and 16 Democrats voted against it. Boehner voted for it, while House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Pennsylvania) voted against it. Politico says the Republican support for the bill is "a significant concession in the aftermath of Mitt Romney’s November defeat and a potentially existential moment for a party that has prided itself on a defiant and dogmatic dislike of tax increases... Among top party leaders and strategists, there’s a grudging recognition that the politics of taxation just aren’t what they used to be. In an age of fiscal anxiety, looming deficits and a potential entitlement meltdown, Americans aren’t flatly opposed to increasing taxes - at least, not for the wealthiest taxpayers."
Rep. Eric Cantor and House Speaker John Boehner (Getty Images)
Last Friday, Obama had met with Boehner, Senate Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and other party leaders to try to get a deal hammered out. The Senate managed to pass the legislation in the wee hours of New Year's Day. Now it's been reported that when Boehner saw Reid outside the Oval Office, he said, "Go f— yourself." From Politico:
“Go f— yourself,” Boehner sniped as he pointed his finger at Reid, according to multiple sources present.
Reid, a bit startled, replied: “What are you talking about?”
Boehner repeated: “Go f— yourself.”
It's possible that Boehner was upset that Reid said he was running a "dictatorship" in the House. Or maybe he was just channeling his inner Cheney.
Tagged
fiscal cliff
go fuck yourself
government
harry reid
house
john boehner
president obama
taxes
wealthy
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .