Boehner Debt Bill Passes House, Gets Defeated In Senate (UPDATE)

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday to raise the debt ceiling and cut $22 billion from next year's spending. Passed as part of a power play by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the bill died in the Senate later Friday evening.

In retribution, the House announced it will vote on Saturday against a different debt ceiling bill authored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), in order to prove that his legislation is dead on arrival in the House.

The House voted on Boehner's bill just four days before the government may begin to default on its loans, after two earlier versions failed to win over anti-spending stalwarts in his party. The Senate then voted to table the bill in a 59-41 vote. All 53 Democrats, along with Republican Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) Mike Lee (R-Utah), David Vitter (R-La.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), voted down the bill.

The Senate now plans to strip Boehner's bill of its content and replace it with language crafted by Reid.

By altering certain provisions of his bill, Boehner was able to win the support of 218 members of the 240-member Republican conference. In the process, however, he further alienated House Democrats, none of whom ended up supporting his plan.

A total of 22 House Republicans bucked their party leaders on the final vote.

Some waited until the very last second to cast their votes, watching the vote board to see where the final tally was ending up before voting no. Reps. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and Tom Latham (R-Iowa) all logged their votes in the final moments.

Others who voted against Boehner's bill included Reps. Justin Amash (Mich.), Michele Bachmann (Minn.), Jason Chaffetz (Utah), Jeff Duncan (S.C.), Tom Graves (Ga.), Tim Huelskamp (Kansas), Steve King (Iowa), Jim Jordan (Ohio), Connie Mack (Fla.), Mick Mulvaney (S.C.), Ron Paul (Texas), Steve Southerland (Fla.), and Joe Walsh (Ill.). Some of these lawmakers resisted serious arm-twisting from GOP leaders the day before.

Five Democrats didn't vote. Among them, three were from California: Reps. Maxine Waters, Jackie Speier and Joe Baca. The two others, Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) and Maurice Hinchey (N.Y.) have been absent for medical reasons.

The bill would slash 2012 fiscal year spending by $22 billion and cut $915 billion out of the national budget over the next decade. It would also establish a "super Congress," composed of 12 members from both parties and chambers, that would have the power to make major changes to Social Security, Medicare and other programs.

To gain support from the Republican conference's most conservative members, it also includes a requirement for the passage of a balanced budget amendment to trigger the second phase of the bill, which would raise the debt ceiling again later this year.

That provision was added on Friday morning to win over members who said the balanced budget amendment measure in the original plan, which required a vote but not passage, was too weak.

Requiring passage of the balanced budget amendment "got a lot of votes," Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) said after a GOP conference meeting on Friday in which Boehner announced the change.

Ahead of the vote, several Republicans who had opposed the bill as recently as Thursday night explained why Boehner's last-minute addition of a balanced budget amendment had been enough to bring them onboard.

"This is close enough to the spirit of [Cut, Cap and Balance] and maybe gets them [enough votes for passage]," Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) said.

Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who is running for Senate in 2012, said Boehner's original bill wasn't sufficient because "it was only two parts of the Cut, Cap and Balance."

"The 'balance' is now there," he said.

Given the political reality that Boehner's bill was dead on arrival in the Senate, Flake wouldn't speculate on what needs to happen next to ensure a deal is passed by August 2. But he noted that at this point, there's "not that much difference" between Boehner's and Reid's bills. And if Reid were willing to attach a balanced budget amendment to his proposal, Flake said he would support that plan.

Reid's bill currently "has cuts, meager. Caps, eh, somewhat," he said. "But if you put some balance in there, I'm there."

The Reid bill would actually cut $2.2 trillion from the deficit over the next decade, while raising the debt ceiling beyond the 2012 election.

According to Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who attended the meeting, said the mood had been friendly, with Boehner telling his conference "I love all of you."

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), who declared himself a "bloodied and beaten 'no'" on Thursday, said he had likely been convinced by Boehner's appeals in the conference meeting.

"I need to read [the bill]," Gohmert said. "I think I can [support it], but I need to read it."

But while Boehner may have won with the Tea Party, he lost with the Senate. Reid had already declared the bill a non-starter in the Senate, but said it was even less digestible with a balanced budget amendment requirement.

Cut, Cap and Balance, a House bill that would have raised the debt limit with a balanced budget amendment requirement, failed in the Senate earlier this month in a 51 to 46 vote. (Three senators were missing.)

Boehner's plan met the same fate, after all 53 Democratic senators signed a letter earlier this week vowing to block the bill. House Republicans have indicated the Boehner bill will be their last offering to the Senate.

"Harry Reid has three different options," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said on Thursday. "One is to suffer the economic consequences of default, which all of us hope he doesn't choose. Two is to bring up the bill we sent prior [Cut, Cap and Balance] or to accept the compromise bill that we are sending over today," Cantor added.

Now that the Boehner bill has failed in the Senate, the chamber will likely proceed with Reid's bill. Reid has been rallying support among Republicans for the plan, with some centrist Republicans hinting they may be willing to compromise.

"I'll vote for Boehner, and I'll vote for Reid," Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) said on Friday. "I've already said that. We need to move our country forward. It's time."

This article has been updated to reflect the results of the Senate vote. A previous version listed Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) as one of the Republicans who voted alongside Democrats to table the bill, when in fact it was Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The error has been corrected.

Comments

[Moudsie]

08:11 PM on 08/01/2011

WHEN AND IF THEY EXPIRE, you'll see more of the same....

To GFE:high unemployme­nt, etc....

the tax cuts allowed my company to spend millions on new equipment and expanded our business. we bought from american companies. it STOPPED after healthcare taxation and finanical reform.... my company wont do anything else until those two matters are CLEARER. More increases will mean more of the same...”

I can't find this on the comments, but you say the tax cuts allowed your company to spend for new equipment, etc. and stopped because of healthcare taxation, etc. -- so what are you saying, you don't want your company to pay taxes, and don't want healthcare? When the tax base was higher, during the Clinton years, we all prospered -- so you can't blame overspending on the part of your company, and, as for healthcare -- if we had natinal healthcare -- the premiums wouldn't be so high -- and climbing more every year, but the GOP won't allow that, or allow us common folk to buy into the plan they have, so here we are.

[Moudsie]

08:07 PM on 08/01/2011

WHEN AND IF THEY EXPIRE, you'll see more of the same....

From GFE: high unemployme­nt, etc....

the tax cuts allowed my company to spend millions on new equipment and expanded our business. we bought from american companies. it STOPPED after healthcare taxation and finanical reform.... my company wont do anything else until those two matters are CLEARER. More increases will mean more of the same...”

[teacher2be33]

05:18 PM on 07/31/2011

They need to pass something definately would be very detrimental to many. Social Security should have been set up according to a bank account. You work you collect. You don't work you do not collect.....the end. Heck I have worked all my life since I was 16 and sometimes holding more than 1 job and have hd a heck of a time getting my disability. I am only Native American.....but worked in a food store and saw many foreigners come in with AFDC cards with tons of cash and food benefits on them and also have WADS of cash and credit cards....sickening.....positively sickening. I work, pay taxes, am losing my health, am scrutinized for my health insurance and small amount of food benefits and never mind about to lose my home because of a shody business practice out of India....they need to do something I know I rely on my check and so do many others who have worked for it.

[flora489]

04:43 PM on 07/31/2011

Unfortunately, the Republicans can only see one thing and that is to make Obama a one term President. They see reinstating the tax on the extremely wealthy as a raise an not as a means of helping to get out of this mess. I am afraid that any bill that passes will fall on those who can least afford it----the elderly (of which I am a member) the poor and infirm and young children who need lunches and health care. For a person who is supposed to know history, Mr. Obama should study the Roosevelts and LBJ. (he screwed himself with his war as Obama is doing now.) As I said to a friend the other day "Obama has two feet, instead of standing on them, he is using them to kneel. Come November let's just "trow dem bums out".

[Henry Massingale]

11:27 AM on 07/31/2011

Part 2: Debit Celling Lie
Have you ever seen the Movie Marley & Me .....Great Movie and this fits in with this posting.
At the part of the movie Marley and his best friend Man, sits on a hill side,, you see Marley is dieing, and this was the moment I saw what people wish for, true Independence from the system, to be able not to worry about what they are doing, to be able to vote honest people into Office, people who have a ability not only to bring a balance but to be able to build to rebuild this Country and place a postive balance of funds into the United States Bank Account. The People's Money.
But when the numbers of $30 to $100 Trillion Dollars of Spending in the last 10 years emerged I was stuned of the total amount of miss spending around $32.3 Trillion Dollars gone, sent to other Countries, and other issues.
You see according to the Officials even Sara Palan,"we only bring in $3 Trillion in Taxs per year"' This spending is not only Criminal it shows the Lack to Govern,
Henry Massingale

[Henry Massingale]

08:50 AM on 08/20/2011

This goal of mine that is now We The people, to place our Tax Dolars under Court Supervision came about becase of the Health Care Dollars.
Government officials attempted to place a United States Supreme Court Judge in Office that would support the take over of the Health Care Issue. According to the Governing Bodies of Laws, within the miss use of the Constitution If a Political Party is found in contempt of Law, then in self preservation and respect to the Courts Of Law and the protection of the rights of the people, the ability of Government Officials to appoint a Judge in the Highest Court In the Land, this ability is to be suspended, and through the vote by the people, that all Judges may Obtain that Seat.
This statement of mine is rocking this Country, people like and they are sharing it, as if whom am I to place the Tax Dollars under the Courts, I told you, my Name is Henry Massingale and I am a painter

[Henry Massingale]

11:22 AM on 07/31/2011

Part 1: Debit Celling Lie
I am just lost by what I have seen in the last weeks maybe someone will see what is lost besides me.
Collateral Damage by F.A.S.C. Concepts
By Henry Massingale a F.A.S.C. Concepts News Release
For over a week as I watched this Debit Celling Issue, it occurred
to me that the disrespect between the two Political Parties is to
inflict Collateral Damage against each other, in this Blame Game. Of
who is at fault for the amount of this Debit celling.
News Flash, in the eyes of the People Of the United States of
America, both of you are to blame. And now because of another issue of
how the Federal System works, I will share a link to a Collateral
Damage forum ....
$16 TRILLION IN SECRET BAILOUTS - By CBS News, this publicly.The first ever GAO (Government Accountability Office) audit of The FED was released Sunday, July 24 / News Reports

[joedenver60]

10:39 AM on 07/31/2011

All this finger pointing of who is to blame for the debt, makes me realize the problem here is the lack of leadership in the white house

[Billy Jack]

10:24 AM on 07/31/2011

LMAO! All that posturing for a measly $22 billion. What happened to the trillions they were fighting for? What a bunch of losers!

[mdcolli]

09:34 AM on 07/31/2011

I feel Boehner has no principles. His only concern is keeping his plush office and title. I also do not think he is very bright. He tends to go with the lowest common denominator.

[aeuropeanvoice]

07:20 AM on 07/31/2011

You have some explaining to here,but probably you can't.
You seem ill equipped to elaborate on simplistic talking points.
Prove me wrong please.

[The Contrary]

04:28 AM on 07/31/2011

John Boehner and Eric Cantor Rushed to hospital after late night car wreck. Unconfirmed sources report that Republican leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor are in stable condition this morning after a late night auto accident. The accident occurred when the vehicle, a classic convertible driven by Cantor, plunged into the Potomac after hitting the Debt Ceiling. The pair miraculously survived the crash, but they both received serious injuries to their credibility. Witnesses indicate that the car was traveling rapidly down Constitution Ave when it tried to pass a speeding Debt Ceiling.

"They were really cooking," says night watchman Keith Barnes, who saw the whole thing. "They tried to pass the Debt Ceiling, but they didn't make it. The car hopped the sidewalk, hit a parking meter and went airborne. It was horrible to watch." The car flew over 150 feet before splashing into the river. The two congressmen pulled themselves from the dark waters and awaited an ambulance.

"John and Eric are very lucky men," says hospital spokesman, Ben Lyon. "They received minor injuries to their bodies, but injuries to their credibly could be fatal. Voters expect congressional leaders to be able to pass a Debt Ceiling."

The two could be released as early as tomorrow, but doctors warn that they had better do a better job of passing the Debt Ceiling next time they try.

http://unconfirmedsources.com/?itemid=6159

This story is not "intended to be a factual," said John Kyle (R-Arizona).

[wdw808]

07:09 AM on 07/31/2011

"injuries to their credibly" really?

nice "spieling"......oh meant "spelling".......well both work

laughing

[Siebenstein]

04:26 AM on 07/31/2011

A good idea would be to keep both parties and those loose Teabaggers all inside while they are "debating" and lets lock the door.
Throw that key away and lets create a new, better party.

[sf omega man]

02:48 AM on 07/31/2011

Boy: Listen to those congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?

Bill: Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favourably, otherwise I may die.

Boy: Die?

Bill: Yeah, die in committee. Oooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live! Now I go to the House of Representatives, and they vote on me.

Boy: If they vote yes, what happens?

Bill: Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again.

Boy: Oh no!

Bill: Oh yes!

[GlennWatson]

11:33 AM on 08/01/2011

We need a new version of that episode with the Super Congress added in.

[dlo2]

11:34 PM on 07/30/2011

Here is a great quote from writer Kathy Kiely in today's National Journal:
"In his book about the prelude to the conflict that nearly tore the United States asunder, Goodheart notes that Abraham Lincoln saw it as a question of maintaining a social contract. "It presents the question, whether discontented individuals too few in numbers to control administration," Lincoln wrote in July, 1861, "can break up their government."

Sound familiar? Eerily, as in the earlier conflict, there is even an especially pugilistic nest of belligerents in South Carolina.

The big question is why Americans are on the edge of such a scary precipice today. After all, at the heart of the Civil War was a great conflict over human bondage. By comparison, today's debate between the Democrats and tea party Republicans seems, picayune. We're going to trigger armageddon over matters of financial housekeeping? "
"Questions? Call us at 800-207-8001"

America's New Civil War
By Kathy Kiely
July 30, 2011 | 1:49 PM

[tazshanghi1]

11:00 PM on 07/30/2011

The GOP would cut their nose off despite their face, just only to beat Obama and claim victory. They are an embarrassment to the American people. My god, I'm learning more about the duties of government, than I care to know. So that means we are in a major crisis.