Gibbs: Putting Off Tax Vote Won't Hurt Democrats This November

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs defended members of the Democratic party on Thursday for leaving town without voting on extending a series of Bush-era tax cuts.

When asked during today’s briefing whether not voting will hurt Democrats at the polls this fall, Gibbs replied, “I don’t think a candidate needs a vote to express what they support.”

Earlier in the week, Democratic leaders were thought to be on the precipice of holding a vote on the issue, despite knowing they lacked the required amount of support. Most Democrats agree with the White House’s desire to extend tax cuts only for Americans making $250,000 or less per year. But Republicans and centrist Democrats have called for extending tax cuts for all taxpayers, regardless of income level.

Senate Democrats officially abandoned their efforts last week, and yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced that his chamber would take the issue up in November, after the midterm elections.

In a speech delivered at the American Enterprise Institute on Thursday, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) accused Democrats of creating uncertainty by punting on the tax vote.

“We could not get a simple up or down vote,” he said. “We can’t keep kicking the can down the road. We’ve run out of road. It’s time to do what we say we’re going to do.”

Gibbs, however, said Democrats were prepared to vote, but the GOP stood in their way.

“I think we could’ve [held a vote] but Republicans weren’t interested.”