Little-Acorn
07-27-2011, 01:18 PM
Well, I'm less than 100% thrilled with this. A lot of unanswered questions remain:
1.) Does this "plan" includse any tax increases?
2.) The first Boehner Plan (aka Cut, Cap and Balance) said that the House and Senate had to approve a Balanced Budget amendment and send it to the states (actual state ratification wan's necessary) to get any increase in the Debt Ceiling. I've heard rumors that the House and Senate only have to VOTE on the BBA in this new plan, they don't have to pass it (2/3 vote is constitutionally required for passage). True/false?
3.) Anyone else want to toss a Q in here?
Getting something passed that will avoid the US's credit rating getting dinged, would be a good thing. But the Republicans have compromised and compromised, just to get here. How much more will they have to give away? And will it be worth that?
-------------------------------
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2011/07/27/tide_turning_gop_rank-and-file_rallying_behind_boehner_plan
Tide Turning: GOP Rank-and-file rallying behind Boehner Plan
by Guy Benson
7/27/2011
Following yesterday's revolt, it now appears Speaker Boehner and his GOP leadership team have successfully aligned their caucus behind Boehner's debt plan (http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2011/07/25/coming_soon_boehners_new_debt_deal). National Review is doing some excellent work following the evolving whip count. Editor Rich Lowry summarizes (http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/272848/conference-meeting-rich-lowry) the tone and outcome of this morning's closed-door Republican conference meeting:
One read-out from the meeting this morning from a House leadership aide: “I was amazed. I was very, very worried walking into it and it went better than I expected. The members get that on this vote you either back John Boehner or Barack Obama. It’s not perfect, but if it gets through the House, it gets through the Senate and the president will sign it. And it cuts trillions of dollars and it holds the president accountable. He wants a blank check and it doesn’t give him one.”
This is a very savvy way to frame the vote. It makes it very hard for strong conservatives to beg off. Republicans have generally gotten their way, party leadership is arguing, so now it's time to claim victory over the president and call his veto threat bluff. Reworking the bill to improve its CBO score was also a smart play -- offering cover for wayward members to re-enter the fray.
If Congress passes the Boehner plan, all the pressure will shift to President Obama. He either reverses himself and signs the bill -- a major GOP tactical win, or he follows through with a veto. That act could send the markets into chaos, and even the press couldn't find a way to blame Republicans. Andrew Stiles is reporting that a number of previously "firm no's" are flipping over into the 'yes' column (http://twitter.com/#!/AndrewStilesNRO/statuses/96231662186266624), including Blake Farenthold and Jeff Flake. Stiles says Paul Ryan seems "confident," and Mike Pence "sounds like a yes."
(Full text of the article can be read at the above URL)
1.) Does this "plan" includse any tax increases?
2.) The first Boehner Plan (aka Cut, Cap and Balance) said that the House and Senate had to approve a Balanced Budget amendment and send it to the states (actual state ratification wan's necessary) to get any increase in the Debt Ceiling. I've heard rumors that the House and Senate only have to VOTE on the BBA in this new plan, they don't have to pass it (2/3 vote is constitutionally required for passage). True/false?
3.) Anyone else want to toss a Q in here?
Getting something passed that will avoid the US's credit rating getting dinged, would be a good thing. But the Republicans have compromised and compromised, just to get here. How much more will they have to give away? And will it be worth that?
-------------------------------
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2011/07/27/tide_turning_gop_rank-and-file_rallying_behind_boehner_plan
Tide Turning: GOP Rank-and-file rallying behind Boehner Plan
by Guy Benson
7/27/2011
Following yesterday's revolt, it now appears Speaker Boehner and his GOP leadership team have successfully aligned their caucus behind Boehner's debt plan (http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2011/07/25/coming_soon_boehners_new_debt_deal). National Review is doing some excellent work following the evolving whip count. Editor Rich Lowry summarizes (http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/272848/conference-meeting-rich-lowry) the tone and outcome of this morning's closed-door Republican conference meeting:
One read-out from the meeting this morning from a House leadership aide: “I was amazed. I was very, very worried walking into it and it went better than I expected. The members get that on this vote you either back John Boehner or Barack Obama. It’s not perfect, but if it gets through the House, it gets through the Senate and the president will sign it. And it cuts trillions of dollars and it holds the president accountable. He wants a blank check and it doesn’t give him one.”
This is a very savvy way to frame the vote. It makes it very hard for strong conservatives to beg off. Republicans have generally gotten their way, party leadership is arguing, so now it's time to claim victory over the president and call his veto threat bluff. Reworking the bill to improve its CBO score was also a smart play -- offering cover for wayward members to re-enter the fray.
If Congress passes the Boehner plan, all the pressure will shift to President Obama. He either reverses himself and signs the bill -- a major GOP tactical win, or he follows through with a veto. That act could send the markets into chaos, and even the press couldn't find a way to blame Republicans. Andrew Stiles is reporting that a number of previously "firm no's" are flipping over into the 'yes' column (http://twitter.com/#!/AndrewStilesNRO/statuses/96231662186266624), including Blake Farenthold and Jeff Flake. Stiles says Paul Ryan seems "confident," and Mike Pence "sounds like a yes."
(Full text of the article can be read at the above URL)