Gibbs: GOP Holding Non-Existent Tax Bill 'Hostage

During today's White House press briefing, ABC News' Jake Tapper asked press secretary Robert Gibbs to explain the Obama administration's accusations over congressional Republicans holding middle class tax cuts "hostage." Tapper correctly notes that Democrats have yet to introduce legislation and wonders how Republicans could be holding anything hostage.

"As I understand it," Tapper noted, "Democrats haven't introduced a bill in the Senate, and the Republicans have.  Wouldn't there have to be a bill that Republicans are threatening to block or [are] blocking before anything is being 'held hostage'?"

"I don't know what bills have been introduced in the Senate," Gibbs replied.  "Obviously, I think the -- the posture of -- I don't think the bill would have to be the existence of -- I mean, I think their rhetoric alone, from Senator McConnell and others, have been that the price of -- there's a $700 billion price tag on moving forward on the tax cuts for the middle class.  That's the tax cuts for the wealthy."