John Boehner Yanks Debt Ceiling Bill, House Vote Postponed

WASHINGTON -- House GOP leadership announced abruptly on Thursday evening that they were suspending a vote on Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) debt ceiling proposal, signaling in the process that the GOP lacked the votes to pass the package.

The news came just minutes before party leadership was set to hold a 5:30 p.m. vote on the proposal, which would cut roughly $915 billion in spending over the next ten years but only raise the debt ceiling through the end of the calendar year.

Congressional aides were scrambling to figure out just when the vote would be rescheduled for -- the House for now will consider eight smaller measures first -- but a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said that a vote on Boehner's proposal would still take place on Thursday night.

Whether that is enough time for the Speaker to convince a few more Republicans to support him is unclear. Informal whip counts had 25 Republicans and the full Democratic caucus opposing the measure, which would put it short of the 216 votes needed for passage.

The bill's delay, and the continued unlikelihood of its passage, gave Democrats yet another hook to argue that the entire enterprise was fruitless. As one aide emailed, with respect to Boehner's bill: "we're wasting precious time so he can twist more arms for a bill that is dead [in the Senate]."

UPDATE: 6:40 p.m. -- Emerging from meetings with the Republican leadership, members who had threatened to vote no on Boehner's plan to raise the debt limit said the Speaker was respectful in asking them to support the package.

"I could arm-wrestle any of you," Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said, joking that his arm had not been twisted by leadership.

Franks declined to comment on how he would vote, though he said his mind was made up. But others, such as Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), were more talkative, saying they were still "no" votes for the Boehner bill.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said he was unconvinced by the "very respectful" appeals of the House GOP leadership, adding he is still a "bloodied and beaten-down 'no.'"

"It's been a tough week for those of us who have said, 'Harry Reid said it was 'dead on arrival' in the Senate,'" Gohmert said. "Why are we compromising with ourselves?'"

Elise Foley contributed reporting.

Comments

[GiveUsFree]

05:19 PM on 08/02/2011

Republicans purposefully sabotaged the economy for political purposes. It's shameful. They didn't win a damn thing. The American people lost. The DOW is steady dropping from this made up controversy. And there goes my 401K - again.

[hadafa]

09:54 PM on 07/29/2011

maybe dems just need some tiger blood.... where is that costume?

[hadafa]

09:50 PM on 07/29/2011

maybe the dems think they have tiger blood.... where is Wu?

[rhettcbowling]

06:09 PM on 07/29/2011

I don't believe I've seen 15,766 comments on here with 1 pending ever.

[rhettcbowling]

05:58 PM on 07/29/2011

America is suppost to be the greatest and we all hope the smartest country in some respects in the world. Evidently we have the wrong people in the money department. We need in Washington District of Corruption money managers to manage the people who manage the money. That way we will be money ahead.

[socialbutterfly4u]

03:18 PM on 07/29/2011

you lib's say "when it was failed conservative policies which got us into this mess in the first place?" Bush deficit in 2006 before Democrat majority in Congress - $456 billion. Deficit during Obama $2 trillion (rounded). Bush unemployment before Democratic majority in Congress 4.6%. Unemployment under Obama 9-10+ %. National dept under Bush - $9.2 trillion. National debt under Obama - increase of 50% to over $14 trillion. Increase in spending during Obama on top of insane Bush spending - ANOTHER 30%. Moratorium on oil drilling - Obama. Worst legistration in history rammed down throats of US citizens despite overwhelming disapproval - Obamacare. Continued failed monetary policy/printing fiat money - Obama. Continued market uncertaintly, no improvement in housing market - Obama. Second worst piece of legislation in history - Frank/Dodd finance "reform" - Obama. Increase in the number of government employee's under Obama making over $150K - over 100%. Yes, clearly the conservative policies since the 2006 Democrat majority in Congress and since Obama was elected have resulted in this mess. "You behave as if stupidity were a virtue" - Heindrich Dorfmann - Flight of the Phoenix 1965.

[memwhar]

11:58 PM on 07/29/2011

Try for the actual facts and truth read rwaller below.

[charleschazman]

03:04 PM on 07/29/2011

How come, after so many times, Congress has routinely passed the Credit limit in the past and now they have no clue what to do? Why haven't they raised it without all this bull****? Why hasn't the American public been told the truth? Is it all a power struggle? Is it because Congress does not like Pres. Obama? Why are the Republicans so adamant on raising taxes on the wealthy and big Corporations while the rest of us suffer? I'm a retiree living on a fixed income from Social Security like millions of other Americans. Why are we having the threat of our money, money we have paid into over many years, being slashed because of Politicians and their cronies who just want to get richer at our expense? Why doesn't someone speak out for us? Where's our voice from our so called Congressmen whom we put there in the first place? This is what our forefathers fought against over 2 hundred years ago. Taxation without representation. How is it that Exxon and Shell, plus other big oil companies, show Billions in profit this past quarter while we, the American public, suffer at their expense? Don't we have a Federal program that looks into this? Or a sub committee that overseas or governs what these oil companies are doing? Where is our voice in these matters? Reminds me of a saying about what politics stands for. "Poli "meaning many, "tics" meaning blood sucking creatures. Am I wrong? Think about it.

[canoeal]

03:02 PM on 07/29/2011

Wait until we add the taxes and debt load from Obamacare to the rest of this mess...

[MovieGuy2010]

04:09 PM on 07/29/2011

Can we count on you to skip your SS and Medicare. being the fine libertarian stud-boy you are?

Can't have you sucking off the government teat, now can we?

[rwaller]

02:08 PM on 07/29/2011

National Debt Increased by 75% under Bush:

2001 - $5.871 trillion
2008 - $10.640 trillion

National Debt Increased 25% Under Obama:

Jan 31st 2009 = $10.569-tr­illion
Jan 31st 2011 = $14.131-tr­illion

But of the $3.56-tril­lion increase, 98% was carry over from Bush programs:

Bush: $910-billi­on = Interest on Debt 2009/2011
Bush: $360-billi­on = Iraq War Spending 2009/2011
Bush: $319-billi­on = TARP/Bailo­ut Balance from 2008 (as of May 2010)
Bush: $419-billi­on = Bush Recession Caused Drop in taxes
Bush: $190-billi­on = Bush Medicare Drug Program 2009/2011
Bush: $211-billi­on = Bush Meicare Part-D 2009/2011
Bush: $771-billi­on = Bush Tax Cuts 2009/2011

Bush's contributi­on ­:

2001 to 2008: $4.769-tri­llion
2009 to 2010: $3.181-tri­llion

Total: $7.950-tri­llion

Increase Since 2001 = $14.131 - $5.871 = $8.26-tril­lion

Bush's contributi­on ­: $7.950-tri­llion / $8.26-tril­lion = 96%

Increase caused By Bush's Programs: 96%
Increase caused by Obama's Programs: 4%

Please comment with facts and scource!

www.federa­lbudget.co­m

[strghtlin]

02:42 PM on 07/29/2011

As for spending cuts? O bama's spending on WELFARE in 16 months? $888 BILLION. The largest welfare spending in the history of this country. THIS ECLIPSED BUSH'S WAR SPENDING BY MORE THAN $260 BILLION!!

[ErnestineBass]

03:09 PM on 07/29/2011

Link, please.

[memwhar]

12:00 AM on 07/30/2011

In the words of one of you baggers heros YOU LIE

[canoeal]

03:04 PM on 07/29/2011

Copying the same talking point over and over gets you exactly the progress as Congress and the President. Get over it and move forward.

[MovieGuy2010]

04:13 PM on 07/29/2011

Dude, Facts and Numbers ARE NOT talking points!

You want to know what talking points are, use a digital tape recorder and play yourself back....

[fworfe]

01:43 PM on 07/29/2011

In better times we'd have to say that the Tea Party is the best friend the Democrats have.
In fact, I've wondered, perhaps with a tad of tongue in cheek, if behind the scenes Democrats are doing everything possible to encourage the health of the Tea Party.
The Tea Party has done what no other political force has been able to do. Within a matter of months, it has shoved the Republican Party into pathetic disarray.
But it's not funny. These wild-eyed juveniles have played fast and loose with our country and possibly with the economic health of Planet Earth.
Can the Democrat cavalry show up at the last minute? That's their plan; they’re way smarter than conservatives. Let's hope it works.
The Tea Party can do a lot of damage, but I think they've outsmarted themselves.
---And the GOP will pay the price of its folly for courting those people.

[Acemkr6]

01:31 PM on 07/29/2011

How about this take Harry Reids 2.8 trillion dollar tax cuts, Put a 3% federal VAT on everything bought sold and manufactured till the debts paid off, Put a bipartisan commisssion in to ensure those tax cuts are done regardless which party is in power! Done deal next!!

[ZaneDavid]

01:39 PM on 07/29/2011

I would go along with that - as long as every dime
of it went to paydown the 14.5 trillion debit.

[IndependentJLL]

01:43 PM on 07/29/2011

Would never happen. To both Dems and Rep a surplus is just money left over that they could start a new program with. Maybe even pick up some new votes. I truely feel most Rep and Dems want the same thing for this country we just see a different path to get there. the only thing standing in our way is Washington

[ErnestineBass]

03:04 PM on 07/29/2011

What a SWELL idea!
Let's burden the middle and working class with an additional 3% tax!
Outstanding! You're a genius!

/sarcasm OFF/

[MovieGuy2010]

04:15 PM on 07/29/2011

Yes, a plan Steve Forbes would truly love...

Why the middle class keeps thinking selling themselves out is a good idea is beyond me?

[salnova]

01:31 PM on 07/29/2011

Okay here is the solution...Increase SS payroll tax to $150K, eliminate big oil et al subsidies, anyone with liquid assets over $1M looses $1.00 for every $2.00 in SS (really, does Bill Gates need SS???), eliminate hideous Bush tax cuts which accomplished zippo, get these 2 wars over, tighten-up tax loops so everyone pays fair share. eliminate fraud in MediCare/Medicade. B/T/W the REAL job growers are ....drum roll....the CONSUMERS! forget this inane notion that it is the rich. We have had a pretty fair test bed of tax breaks which did nothing but inflate already inflated off-shore bank accounts and created record LOW job growth. Taxes are at a 50-year so don't complain!

[ErnestineBass]

03:01 PM on 07/29/2011

~sigh~ If only we could clone 533 copies of you to work alongside Bernie Sanders.

F&F

[canoeal]

03:14 PM on 07/29/2011

Say hello to higher oil prices and the inflation that follows.
Belive me folks it ain't that easy. Cutting Gov't spending and paying Down the debt has been the elephant in the room for 40 years... and the elephant is sqeezing us out of the room. The fed needs to do more with less (I guess that means all Gov't employees might actually have to do something to retain their Jobs) Get rid of all pork (which means some in politics will now have no accomplishments) Stop funding rersearch in the private sector, and yes diminish or eliminate federal funding for not for profits (make them stand or fall on their own). And stop promising benefits and pensions that can't be funded. (401ks have to wwork for the rest of us...) Get in and stay only in the business Constutionally required to run a Country and Oh, not the world.

[MovieGuy2010]

04:17 PM on 07/29/2011

"And stop promising benefits and pensions that can't be funded. "

Social Security is good for another 36 years, and would be good for much longer, if they hadn't been stealing it blind for decades:

http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/04/how-ronald-reagan-and-alan-greenspan-pulled-off-the-greatest-fraud-ever-perpetrated-against-the-american-people/

[garylinn]

01:28 PM on 07/29/2011

Dear Mr. President:

Never mind; my Mom always taught me that if I didn't have anything good to say, not to say anything at all.

(a peaceful vet)

[donnellyddo]

01:25 PM on 07/29/2011

How long can we go spending more than we make? Even if you tax the "rich" at 100% of their earnings there will still be a deficit of $1.5 trillion for this year alone. This is not an income problem. It is a spending problem. We have to borrow money to pay our loans now. That's ridiculous.

[ZaneDavid]

01:41 PM on 07/29/2011

All that fell on blind eyes and deaf ears.......sorry.

**fan**....at least you tryed

[ErnestineBass]

02:33 PM on 07/29/2011

You fan people for their skill at rote memorization of Luntz talking points?

wow

[MovieGuy2010]

04:26 PM on 07/29/2011

My favorite canard "If you tax the rich at 100%:" which NO ONE is suggesting.

Why does that let them off the hook ALL TOGETHER!

Here's my other favorite "The rich now pay XX% of the taxes.."

Which has gone WAY UP and can any of our math wizards tell me why, since their marginal rates have gone DOWN since Reagan?

Beause THEY HAVE ALL THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would LOVE to have them pay a smaller percentage, but that means, the Middle class NEEDS MORE MONEY to contribute...and, since the middle class wages have been flat for over a decade, I guess Bushs Tax cuts didn't exaclty spur THAT part of the economy, now did it?

Here's what I would like, Cut MIDDLE CLASS TAXES and raise Taxes on eveyone that makes a Million and Over? Hows that for populist?

The JOB CREATORS (since our Orwellian brothers on the right have banned the word rich) are paying the lowest rates since the Gilded Age, and, I for one, think Franklins idea of a Republic is better then Grover Nordquists Idea of a Oligarchy.

Cut spending AND Close Loopholes, or go take a walk off a short pier, Monarchists!

[muireinstein]

01:22 PM on 07/29/2011

Republicans do not know how to or want to share so they cannot compromise. They are substantively greedy. That is why they are fighting amongst themselves. They are the Party of NO. It had to happen eventually. That is what happens when you take a hard line. It comes back to bite you.

[donnellyddo]

01:30 PM on 07/29/2011

No, greedy would be to do nothing and hold our hand out. Taking on a problem is the hard way out not the easy way. You think anyone likes being called names like you and others do? No but I cannot watch America spend away the future.

[ZaneDavid]

01:46 PM on 07/29/2011

Hate to tell you this but there are a lot of people in this country, other
than just Republican, that do not want to share or compromise. And
I am one of them - - I am sick and tired of 'sharing' my hard earned
money with a bunch of zero ambition losers....no more compromise.

[ErnestineBass]

02:35 PM on 07/29/2011

See you at church on Sunday, Rev.