POLITICS
Debt Crisis: Boehner's Revised Plan Expected to Pass the House and Move to the Senate
July 28, 2011
12:10 pm, Central
Updated: July 29, 2011
12:20 am, Central
Diane W. Collins
dcollins@marketingweb.com
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House Speaker, John Boehner (R-OH) |
Today, the House takes up "The Budget Control Act of 2011," the Boehner debt plan which offers a two-step process to cut, cap and move toward balance by requiring a vote on a balanced budget amendment. This is the revised CBO scored plan that followed the original bill.
The revised Boehner plan offers $917B in spending cuts over ten years with $22B in 2012. Regarding the debt ceiling, it raises the debt limit by $900B in step one while allowing for another increase during the second step as advised by a bipartisan, bicameral committee and passed by Congress. Under Boehner's bill the total increase in the debt limit is not to exceed $2.5T. It does not raise taxes. This puts a leash on Congress.... finally. A vote on a balanced budget amendment takes place on Friday in the House.
Action on Boehner's Debt Plan
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GOP Freshmen Support Boehner |
House Rule Passes 238 to 186 |
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This morning prior to the House debate the GOP Freshmen held a press conference which appears to give Speaker Boehner's revised plan overwhelming support. The bill is expected to pass this afternoon and be sent to the Senate. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) stated he wished to be recognized on the Senate floor at 5 pm, Eastern. We'll see what transpires. One can only imagine the outrage should he attempt to "table" another bill.
How Boehner's bill passes to the Senate is somewhat confusing. It appears, according to CSPAN that "The Budget Control Act of 2011" will be attached as an amendment to S.176, Sen. Barbara Boxer's, "Common Sense Concealed Firearms Permit Act of 2011," however, these are parliamentary moves beyond this writer's "pay grade." Currently it is being addressed on the floor as an amendment to S.627 as we early tweeted. We'll have to see how it all pans out. More later.
UPDATE: July 29, 2011
12:20 am, Central
Thursday was an exhausting day as I'm sure all would agree. The anticipated 5 pm, EDT vote was postponed as Speaker Boehner, Republican leaders, and those with party influence encouraged representatives to vote for the bill. Leaks to the press from caucus meetings and discussions as well as those "chasing leanings" may or may not have been mischaracterized adding to the animosity. Tabloid journalism. It takes the naive captive and hurts careers for its own selfish purposes though it claims noble purpose.
Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) kept the Senate open until 11:30 pm, EDT but couldn't resist taking pot shots at Boehner. Reid, who has said he would bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote is anticipated to table the Boehner plan once it goes to the Senate. Reid has earned the title, "Author of Default." Democrats have created the perfect storm. A President and Secretary of the Treasury who redefine the term "default" to suit their own purposes while scaring senior's, military families, bond holders and using the liberal media to encourage markets to react. And let's not forget the do-nothing Senate that blocks every logical piece of legislation the House sends their way.
In the turmoil it's been reported that House Minority Whip, Steny Hoyer (D-MD) recommended Obama simply raise the debt ceiling and circumvent congress by invoking the 14th Amendment. This is an absurd misrepresentation of the 14th Amendment, Section 4 which says,
"Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void."
To even imply its use in the debt ceiling debate is another example of the lawlessness of the Left. Hoyer should be reprimanded on the House floor. He has encouraged the President of the United States to commit an impeachable offense which would cause Obama to be removed from office.
Republicans realize that if Boehner's bill does not make it out of the House they will have to deal with whatever the Senate passes. The recalcitrant feel the House would have an opportunity to amend, perhaps attach a balanced budget amendment. (The revised Boehner bill calls for a vote on a balanced budget amendment two ways; simple majority and two-thirds majority. It is/was scheduled for Friday.) Since there are no new revenues in Reid's bill the legislation does not have to originate in the House, as prescribed by the Constitution. However, the prestige of the Speaker and the party itself will have been diminished. It is difficult to negotiate from a position of weakness. It seems untenable that one would choose to when a logical option has been offered. The Left will smell blood in the water. If you think they are impossible now, see what happens if Boehner's bill doesn't pass the House.
It has been reported the Boehner bill has been "tweaked" further to make it more palatable to the undecided.
The House Rules Committee met at 11:00 pm, EDT Thursday to pass H.Res. 382 Waiving clause 6(a) of Rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) This gives Speaker Boehner the greatest amount of flexibility in producing a legislative solution over the next few days.
Friday, July 29th the Senate convenes at 9:30 a.m. and the House at 9:00 a.m., EDT. A vote on the Boehner bill is expected sometime Friday.
Contact: Representatives, Contact: Senators