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Senate talks sidelined as House GOP scrambles for votes
The Hill ^ | October 15, 2013 | Bernie Becker and Peter Schroeder

Posted on 10/15/2013 12:52:56 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

House Republicans scrambled Tuesday to convince their skeptical conservative flank to support a new plan to end the government shutdown and lift the debt ceiling.

Rank-and-file GOP lawmakers pushed back on the original plan from Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and his lieutenants, seeking more sweeteners to what was essentially a framework crafted by the Senate.

The impasse sidelined the Senate, which on Monday appeared close to a tentative deal.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suspended their recent talks, as the Senate GOP sought to give Boehner more maneuvering room.

“I don’t know if anything in politics are completely dead, but they seem to be mortally wounded," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), referring to talks in the Senate.

The White House and Senate Democrats quickly charged that the newest House GOP plan was a nonstarter, raising even more doubts that Congress could raise the $16.7 trillion debt limit by the Thursday deadline set by the Treasury Department.

Treasury has said it would only have $30 billion left on Oct. 17, and that it does not have the ability to prioritize payments.

International leaders and the business community are worried about a possible U.S. default as Treasury struggles to pay U.S. bond holders while issuing checks to the military, Social Security beneficiaries and others. Investors showed little demand in two U.S. short-term debt sales Tuesday, a sign of worries about gridlock in Washington.

Graham, a consistent critic of the GOP’s recent tactics of targeting President Obama’s healthcare law, said Senate Republicans were eager to help Boehner line up support for his plan, believing it might finally present an opportunity for the GOP to gain some ground in the fight.

“I think every member of the Republican Conference wants to try to reach out to the House members and say, 'What can we do to help John Boehner?' ” he said. “This is sort of an all hands on deck approach to help the Speaker go on offense for the party and the country. Whether we get there, I don’t know.”

Yet divisions in the House GOP conference remain troublesome, with members expressing doubts Boehner could pull together the votes for a plan if Democrats don’t go along with him.

After a meeting in Boehner's office Tuesday afternoon, centrist GOP Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.), said it was clear to him the Speaker's plan did not have the votes to pass.

“My best estimate is the answer to that is no, not the way they presented it this morning,” he said. “This is a very fluid situation right now. I don't know who is going to go first, the House or the Senate.”

Democrats are objecting to changes to healthcare included in the House GOP proposal, which were not included in a bipartisan Senate deal that had been forming.

The changes would delay a tax on medical devices and strip ObamaCare subsidies from lawmakers, the president, vice president and Cabinet officials.

Some House conservatives also want to strip healthcare subsidies from congressional staff.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: debt; obamacare; obamacaves; shutdown
Obamacare is killing our economy.

What else do our Senators and Congressmen need to know.

Remember Madison - Remember Scott Walker and FIGHT!

1 posted on 10/15/2013 12:52:56 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

When you compromise with EVIL all you get is more EVIL!


2 posted on 10/15/2013 12:54:22 PM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

If Boehner can’t get the votes for his plan, then Reid and McConnell’s plan will certainly NOT get the votes!

And I think this is what Harry Reid fears, that the support is not there for even that compromise. They want to force their bill on the House, but if the House acts first and demonstrates the lack of support, the senate will have to concede on something.


3 posted on 10/15/2013 12:58:02 PM PDT by cotton1706
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Be afraid, be very afraid, GOP.

You may very well be digging your grave... oh future WHIG party.

Vote RINO and you’re doomed.


4 posted on 10/15/2013 12:58:47 PM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Be afraid, be very afraid, GOP.

You may very well be digging your grave... oh future WHIG party.

Vote RINO and you’re doomed.


5 posted on 10/15/2013 12:58:51 PM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
and that it does not have the ability to prioritize payments.

Well then ...who the hell does?

6 posted on 10/15/2013 1:06:23 PM PDT by EBH ( The Day of the Patriot has arrived.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
RE :”After a meeting in Boehner’s office Tuesday afternoon, centrist GOP Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.), said it was clear to him the Speaker's plan did not have the votes to pass. “

Those in GOP thinking that voting against anything (like this idea) will stop Bohner from passing a Debt limit increase w CR is just like those who foolishly thought a shutdown would defund Obama-care, when it was exempt.

At this point the object should be to return some pain to Dems, instead of just being the recipient of it.

Let Dems suffer under Obama-care with a short term CR and debt extension to see if it changes their attitude. Then see how they feel the next go round.

7 posted on 10/15/2013 1:07:05 PM PDT by sickoflibs (To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position)
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To: cotton1706

If the House doesn’t send it’s bill then the senate’s bill will be the only game in town and will pass the House.

If the Senate amends the House bill and sends it back then the House has to reject that bill.

So, the debt limit bill from the House has to get both conservative and RINO support. Otherwise the RINOs will pass the bill Harry sends back.
That’s a tall order to write such a bill LOL!

Hopefully the RINO and conservative members are aware they will hang together- or separately.


8 posted on 10/15/2013 1:07:36 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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To: mrsmith

Is “The Hill” a liberal rag sheet? I thought they were conservative.

Boy am I wrong.


9 posted on 10/15/2013 1:30:28 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (President Stompyfeet....Priceless.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

POLITICO and “The Hill” are just blatant Dem Party propaganda organs.

Rollcall is much better, though ‘establishment’ oriented.
More ‘inside’ information.
It’s coverage is almost never manipulative though a ‘slant’ is there of course.


10 posted on 10/15/2013 1:50:35 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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