Welcome to February. Well past the days following the November election when John Boehner felt triumphant and his majority unassailable. Reality indicates that things are falling apart.
In the first month of the 112th Congress, the new House Republican majority voted unanimously to repeal President Obama’s healthcare law, cut congressional budgets and set the stage for spending showdowns that will dominate the spring.
But that run of GOP unity is about to end. Boehner faces a defining moment in his Speakership as he and his lieutenants navigate a trio of major bills: a short-term measure to fund the government, the longer-term budget blueprint, and legislation raising the federal debt ceiling beyond its present $14.3 trillion limit.
I'm willing to bet Nancy Pelosi is glad she's not the one having to face a choice between wrath over lifting the debt limit, and wrath over loss of government services. This is the point at which an underinformed American public, so handy for Republicans during campaigns, will turn against them.
"What? You mean we can't have debt reduction and quick passport renewals? We can't have deficit reduction and ontime Social Security checks?"
Boehner’s public rhetoric illustrates his precarious balance. On the one hand, the Speaker has said Republicans would not vote for an increase unless it is coupled with “serious reductions in spending” and budget controls.
At the same time, he joined Geithner in cautioning against default. He famously described the debt-ceiling vote as an “adult moment” for the GOP last fall, and last week said that failing to act was not an option.
“That would be a financial disaster not only for our country, but for the worldwide economy,” Boehner said on “Fox News Sunday.” “Remember, the American people on Election Day said we want to cut spending and we want to create jobs. You can’t create jobs if you default on the federal debt.” ...... Bachmann’s Tea Party Caucus will hold its first meeting of the new Congress Feb. 17, and the debt ceiling will be at the top of the agenda.
Exactly how many “no” votes Boehner is starting with remains unclear.
“It’s not three people, I can tell you that. It’s not some tiny insignificant group,” Lankford said. ...The Hill
