House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, took to the House floor on Friday to forcefully denounce what he characterized as a “fake” fight being picked by Democrats with Republicans over freezing student loan interest rates.
“This is beneath the dignity of the House!” boomed Boehner to his Republican and Democratic colleagues. He made a similar remark directed at President Obama at a news conference on Thursday about Obama’s involvement in the issue being beneath the dignity of the presidency.
“Nobody wants to see student loan interest rates go up,” added Boehner, who said members of both parties have been intending to work to prevent the rates from doubling. But he accused Democrats of politicizing the issue.
Boehner was especially incensed over depictions by Democrats that the GOP bill voted on on Friday to prevent the rates from increasing would do so by raiding funds from women’s health programs. He said Obama himself had proposed cutting the same funds.
“Do we have to fight over everything? Now, we’re going to have a fight over women’s health?” he asked.
“Gimme a break!” Boehner said.
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