The Hill News

Speaker-designate John Boehner slammed Democrats on Friday for their tax cut strategy, accusing them of not being serious about wanting to get the unemployed back to work. 

Boehner's (R-Ohio) jab came after the government announced the unemployment rate ticked up to 9.8 percent in November and the economy only created a less-than-expected 39,000 jobs.

"Unfortunately, Democratic leaders continue to insist on wasting time with meaningless votes as they try to make it as difficult as possible to stop their job-killing tax hike," he said in a statement. "Families and small businesses have had enough of politicians in Washington talking about creating jobs while doing everything in their powe! r to kill more jobs.  This is exactly the kind of Washington game-playing the American people voted against on Election Day."

Boehner sought to use the disappointing news to hammer home the Republicans' position on the expiring Bush era tax cuts and to urge swift action on passing a workable plan in the lame-duck Congress. 

The Ohio Republican ripped a bill passed yesterday by Democrats to extend the cuts only for the middle-class as "chicken crap."

Republicans want to extend the cuts for families earning $250,000 per year and individuals making $200,000 per year, in addition to the middle-class, saying that small-business owners who create jobs fall under those tax brackets. By extending those cuts, small-business owners will have greater certaintly and will start hiring again, according to Republicans.

"The lame-duck Congress s! hould do the right thing and vote immediately to cut spending ! and stop all the tax hikes," he said. If they don’t, the new House majority will in January."