"A little later today, I'll sit down with President Obama to discuss his request to raise the nation's debt ceiling. And when I do, I intend make a request of my own: I intend to ask the President what he's prepared to do, outside of raising taxes, about the massive deficits and debt that have accumulated on his watch.

"I will tell him what Republicans are looking for in this debate: to cut spending now, cap runaway spending in the future, save our entitlements from bankruptcy, and to get our economy moving.

"And I will tell him the truth about requests by some in his party that we increase spending and raise taxes as a way of solving the debt and jobs crisis that precipitated the President's request to raise the debt limit: Not only are they counterproductive from the standpoint of an economic recovery; they're also politically impossible, since Republicans oppose tax hikes and Democrats have already shown they won't raise taxes in a down economy.

"So let's start by taking both proposals off the table and focus on what can actually pass Congress, and what will actually spur the private sector to invest in our future and create jobs.

"Those who are calling for tax hikes as a part of these debt discussions either have amnesia about the fate of similar votes just six months ago - when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress as well as the White House - or they're acting in bad faith, since we all know that including massive, job-killing tax hikes would be a poison pill. Let's move past tax hikes, talk about what's actually possible, and let's talk about what has and hasn't worked over the past two years.