Speaker John Boehner to avoid the "fiscal cliff" is coming under fire from within his own party.
Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, a leader of tea party conservatives in Congress, is denouncing the $800 billion in higher tax revenue over 10 years that would come from the speaker's plan. DeMint says it's a "tax hike" that will "destroy American jobs and allow politicians in Washington to spend even more" -- while failing to reduce the debt.
Boehner's plan also includes an increase in the eligibility age for Medicare, and lower cost-of-living hikes for Social Security benefits. Overall, the plan is designed to save $2.2 trillion over ten years.
It's the Republican response to a White House plan last week that includes $1.6 trillion in higher taxes over a decade.
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