Lots going on in D.C. today so let me catch you up to speed. The Democratic Senate reached a compromise on the budget deal in the wee hours of the morning. The deal extended tax cuts for all except those at the very top – but didn’t touch spending. That, the Senate claims, they’ll tackle in February.
With that, the measure went to the House. The Republican House does not like the proposal. Specifically, they don’t like that the bill leaves out spending cuts.
So they met today. And they left. And then they met again.
There has been no vote as of yet but there may be one later tonight. Reportedly, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has offered the option to his colleagues of voting on an amended version of the bill or a straight up or down.
But, as with Speaker Boehner’s effort to bring the House together for a vote on Plan B, it appears that Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) may thwart the plan. Cantor has told reporters that he did not support the bill.
As of this writing, there’s been no vote set either way. If it doesn’t pass soon, they’ll have to start over: a brand new House gets sworn in on Thursday.
I’ll keep you posted on the details. But to tide you over, some fun quotes of the day:
This is not a good deal. This is a sad state of affairs — that we’re going to take a bill that was passed on New Year’s Eve by some sleep-deprived octogenarians that has very, very heavy on taxes and does nothing to cut spending, which is really part of the big problem that we have in the country. – Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH)
I know it was way past those senators’ bedtime and they were bleary eyed when they were reading it, so we are trying to fill in the gaps where they may have missed a few things. – Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA)
There’s not a lot of support for the bill as is. I personally hate it. – Rep. John Campbell (R-CA)
We’re going to have to deal with the sequester, that’s true but look, this is better than nothing. – Sen. Max Baucus, (D-MT)
This day has been like a New Year’s Day, television marathon of the Congress of chronic chaos with roller coasters and twists and turns and fancy footwork and high drama. It’s unnecessary. The American people deserve compromise. They deserve pragmatism. – Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY)
And my favorite:
I would be shocked if this bill doesn’t go back to the Senate. – Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL)
Me too, Rep. Bachus.
