Free Republic

Senate Republicans want a 60-vote threshold for a debt-limit bill to pass the chamber, but it's actually Democrats who are enforcing the filibuster on their own legislation, insisting on delaying a vote until 1 a.m. Sunday morning. Republicans offered to let the vote happen Friday night, just minutes after the chamber voted to halt a House Republican bill. All sides expect Democrats' bill will fail too, and the GOP said senators might as well kill both at the same time so that negotiations could move on to a compromise. "We would be happy to have that vote tonight," Sen. Mitch...

All 53 Senate Democrats signed a letter tonight to House Speaker John Boehner saying essentially that they would rather the US default on its debt than pass the House GOP plan that would cut spending and force another vote next year.

House Speaker John Boehner is insisting tax increases are "off the table" in negotiations with the Obama administration and congressional Democrats on extending the federal debt limit. The Ohio Republican tells NBC's "Today" show "everything else is on the table." Boehner (BAY'-nur) appeared a day after telling the Economic Club of New York he wants trillions of dollars in spending cuts as part of legislation allowing the government to continue borrowing beyond the current $14.3 trillion cap.