Boehner Proposes Tax Rate Freeze- House Minority Leader Boehner proposed a freezing of all current tax rates for two years, while cutting all non-security spending back to 2008 levels.

“If we’re able to do this together, I think we’ll show the American people that we understand what’s going on in the country and we’ll be able to get our economy moving again and get jobs growing in America,” said Boehner.

Boehner argues that the government spending is excessive, creating uncertainty for small businesses and hampering job creation, while Americans remain worried about the chances of a massive tax hike.

The two-part proposal comes as President Obama is scheduled to speak on the economy today in Cleveland. Republicans are endorsing spending cuts as an alternative to the passage this fall of what Boehner predicts will be a “bloated” FY11 omnibus spending bill.

The two-year extension of tax cuts, meanwhile, would freeze the rates enacted under former President George W. Bush, that are set to expire on Jan. 1.

Both chambers are considering whether to the tax cuts should be extended or allowed to expire.

House Majority Leader Hoyer said that House Democrats intend to make sure “middle-income people not have their taxes increased.” But he indicated that Democrats are not interested in extending the higher-end tax cuts for wealthy individuals and households.

Hoyer stated that lawmakers returning to Washington next week “will have to address the issue of funding government for a period of time” before the elections.