Boehner gets salty to prod Senate on sequester

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner is using salty language to prod the Senate to act on legislation to replace automatic spending cuts known as the sequester.

Boehner complained at a news conference Tuesday that the House has twice passed bills that would replace the across-the-board cuts with more targeted reductions, while the Senate has not acted.

Senate Democrats have unveiled a package that would replace the sequester with a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. The Senate could act on a bill later this week, though it is unlikely to pass because Republicans oppose the tax hikes.

A frustrated Boehner told reporters, quote, "We should not have to move a third bill before the Senate gets off their ass and begins to do something."