GOP leader mum on plan for higher taxes

WASHINGTON -- Sidestepping controversy, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) declined to take sides yesterday on a proposal for higher taxes backed by Republicans on Congress' supercommittee, yet expressed confidence the panel would agree on a deficit-reduction plan of at least $1.2 trillion by a Nov. 23 deadline.

A proposal for $300 billion in higher taxes has stirred grumbling among congressional Republicans, for whom opposing such increases has been political bedrock for decades.

One prominent conservative, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, said in a published commentary: "Our economy will have an even tougher time catching its balance if Washington" raises taxes.

Separately, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who outlined the plan in a closed-door meeting of four Republicans and three Democrats last week, was said to have encountered criticism from conservatives despite strong credentials as an opponent of higher taxes. "There's been a little bit, but it's been pretty muted," his spokeswoman, Nachama Soloveichik, said of the response.

Cantor's spokeswoman turned aside emailed requests for his views on the proposal. She said he hadn't seen the plan, and referred to his comments at a news conference earlier in the day when he said, "I'm not going to be opining as to any reports, hypotheticals or anything connected with their work."

Despite that pledge, Cantor was bullish in predicting agreement before the deadline and adding that a fallback requirement to cut $1.2 trillion from domestic and defense programs wouldn't be triggered.

The committee has spent two months hoping to succeed at a task that has defied the best efforts of high-ranking political leaders, past and present.

Despite intense talks late last week, there has been little indication of progress as age-old political divisions have re-emerged. The principal stumbling blocks revolve around taxes on the one hand, and the large federal programs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security on the other.

Democrats are unwilling to agree to cuts in benefit programs unless Republicans will accept higher taxes, particularly on the highest-income individuals and families.

Republicans counter that out-of-control spending largely accounts for the government's enormous budget deficits, and raising taxes will only complicate efforts to help the economy recover from the worst recession in seven decades.