| Boehner's Plan B Vote Cancelled, Fiscal Cliff Less Than Two Weeks Away |
| Dec-20-2012 |
| Keywords: boehner, fiscal cliff, plan b, vote, house |
House Speaker Boehner Thursday night was slapped with a slab of conservative angst over raising taxes on anyone. Obviously lacking the support needed to pass his "Plan B," Boehner pulled the bill from the floor just minutes before the scheduled vote.
The surprise cancellation of the vote followed House Republicans narrowly passing a bill aimed at replacing automatic spending cuts set to hit next month. That bill passed on a 215-209, with 21 Republicans reportedly unwilling to support the measure.
Leading up to the second of the two votes, some 40 Republicans came out against the tax bill that would have raised taxes on those earning over $1,000,000 a year, while preserving the Bush era tax cuts for the rest.
"The House did not take up the tax measure today because it did not have sufficient support from our members to pass," Boehner said in a statement. "Now it is up to the president to work with Senator Reid on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff."
Shortly after that statement, the White House said the "President will work with Congress to get this done and we are hopeful that we will be able to find a bipartisan solution quickly that protects the middle class and our economy."
Today's turmoil on Capitol Hill is raising more questions about Washington's ability to avoid the fiscal cliff now fewer than 11-days away.
The global financial markets embodied investor dissatisfaction with the day's events. Stocks in Asia suffered steep declines, with U.S. futures tanking as well. |
|
|
Posted by Lou Dobbs Staff at 10:00 PM Email to a friend |
| < Back to Today's Issues |
|
 |
|
|
|
