Boehner Defends Criticism of Bill

Despite concessions in the financial-reform bill that involved removing the bank tax, House Minority Leader John Boehner defended his comments earlier in the week in which he had compared the bill to "killing an ant with a nuclear weapon." President Obama responded Wednesday at a town hall speech in Racine, Wisconsin, saying, "These Americans don't believe the financial crisis was an ant." Boehner shot back by accusing Democrats of being out of touch with the American people. He characterized Americans as caring about jobs and the economy, but having been burdened with health care, cap and trade—and financial regulation.