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Updated 1:19 p.m. — A path toward resolving the impending the co-called fiscal cliff was suspended in limbo Friday following a dramatic defeat for House Speaker John Boehner, whose own rank-and-file members refused to support his backup plan Thursday night.
After conservatives balked at Boehner's "Plan B," which would have preserved current income tax rates for those making less than $1 million, the nation's top elected Republican shrugged off questions about whether his job was in danger. And as Washington prepares for a holiday break, Democrats and Republicans are further apart than ever on a plan to avoid the combination of tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to take effect in just 11 days.
And the Ohio Republican emerged Friday urging President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats to re-engage in talks toward an overarching deal toward resolving the fiscal cliff, the combination of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts (which fall heavily upon the defense budget) set to take effect on Jan. 1.
"I'm interested in solving the major problems facing our country," Boehner said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. "And that means House leaders, Senate leaders and the president are going to continue to have to work together to address those concerns."
With just 10 days until the nation goes over the so-called "fiscal cliff," lawmakers head home for the holidays. For the president, his stay in Hawaii will be a "working vacation." NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., demanded that Boehner allow a Democratic proposal to extend tax rates for income under $250,000 to come up for a vote.
"There's nothing preventing the speaker from taking up our bill," Reid said Friday afternoon on the Senate floor. Boehner did say the House would "certainly take a look" at that bill, if the Senate manages to resolve a procedural holdup that would bar the House from considering the legislation. (Reid called that excuse "phony.")
But the speaker's task has become more vexing than ever; conservatives sent a powerful signal yesterday that they would not approve any tax increase, even on millionaires. Obama's demand that tax rates be allowed to rise for the wealthiest Americans amounts to a seemingly intractable standoff with House Republicans.
Boehner said that many lawmakers still prefer broad reforms to the tax code, but he acknowledged the difficulty in reaching any consensus: "How we get there? God only knows."
The president plans to work with Congress to prevent tax hikes and spending cuts that are expected to kick in on January 1 after House Republicans rejected a vote on House Speaker John Boehner's "Plan B" legislation. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
The speaker seemed unconcerned, though, about the prospects for an uprising from fellow Republicans.
"No, I am not," Boehner said when asked directly whether he should be concerned about his position. "If you do the right things every day for the right reasons, the right things will happen."
Republican leaders dismissed House lawmakers for the holiday weekend after pulling the vote on Thursday evening. Boehner said they would be recalled to Washington "as needed." The Democratic-controlled Senate is currently scheduled to reconvene next Thursday, Dec. 27.
"It's too bad Speaker Boehner wasted a week on this futile, political stunt," Reid said. "It's time for the speaker and all Republicans to return to the negotiating table."
The intervening time period might allow for Boehner and Obama to reach an agreement, though its final approval in the House would almost certainly involve the speaker turning to Democrats for votes. That would strengthen Obama's ability to insist upon tax rates, spending cuts and entitlement reforms that hew more closely to the plan on which he campaigned for much of this year.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Boehner has "done his part. He's bent over backwards." As an alternative, the top Senate Republican proposed extending tax rates for a full year with instructions to enact tax reform in the meanwhile. (Democrats rejected it out-of-hand.)
For their part, Republicans said they would look to Obama for action on a path forward.
"I don't want taxes to go up, Republicans don't want taxes to go up," Boehner said. "But we only run the House; Democrats continue to run Washington."
McConnell said: "It's the president's job — it's his job — to find a solution that can pass the Congress."
In the meanwhile, Boehner said he remained committed to working toward a deal, and said he was not interested in giving up his position as speaker.
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The GOP controlled house is inept.......they are just pathetic at what they are supposed to do.
Oh and Boehner is pronounced Boner........this idiot needs to come to grips with his own name.
These congressional members are not only idiots they are "certified" idiots working around "certified" dumb @sses. They think their smart with their big degrees. Umm, a degree in stupidity sounds more like it.
When in Bolivia the new Chief of the Judges told public that in difficult cases he counselled the coca leaves, he was thought nuts!
When in the USofA the Speaker announces that only god knows how to solve the fiscal cliff, may I ask then what kind of education he had. Same kind of Shamanism? From my different US friends, both Dems or Reps I understand they have lost any hopes in their administration.
Hope Boehner checks into rehab soon.
McConnell said: "It's the president's job — it's his job — to find a solution that can pass the Congress."
I think it's time for Mitch to reread the U.S. Constitution.
"Section. 7.
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House
of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on
other Bills....."
"Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes,
Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence
and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises
shall be uniform throughout the United States;....."
So Mitch, it is the CONGRESS who is responsible to come up with something that can get past the President.
Nuff said.
And yet, President Obama has tried to use the bully pulpit to...
He has not. he has tried to show that there is a reason those taxes need to go back up "where they used to be">
Boner needs to stop being a control freak.
The public would have to have a bunch of BAR addresses to catch up to Borhner. he ought to try doing an honest days work for a change. Their has to be a better candidate than Boehner in the GOP groupies.
2% can live anywhere in the world, they choose to live in the land of plenty. Boehner is their bungling bark dog. The Koch Bros, are exacting their pound of flesh. So you out voted my money. Gonna Raise my taxes. America's bond rating can go down, 47% Could see another recession, try to drive the country to its knees for voting O back in. but the 2% really won't feel recession. They don't care. Nation voted O, GOP/2% say no. Sound familiar. America love it or Leave it.
And you aren't God! Get something done, A-whole!
This is the first step in Americas austerity...... so get ready
They will take all they can......just get ready........
The bell will toll
now we now his problem . He thinks god is his gliding light. Caus god once shed his glorious light all over when he was kneeling down in front of him. or was that some priest?
Boehner place himself in the position to challenge the President and the responsibility of the budget does rest with Congress as the House has proved to be non-supportive to any measures the President has put forth. Dysfunctional and ultimately we can blame the President but we see its not his fault. LoL. Unfortunately many Americans might feel the pinch from this. I assume to let the fiscal issue evolve and then let the President resume his campaign pursuit.
Truly amazing that the only people in this country who don't know what needs to be done are in the White House and Congress.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they are millionaires and really don't give damn what happens.
Com'on folks wake up..... the cliff is needed for the credit rating if they cut taxes for ANYONE and do not CUT SPENDING, not the Deficit the Credit rating will go down....... go off the cliff into austerity even if it keeps us in recession the credit rating will go UP and the interests we pay on the borrowed money will STAY down....
This has nothing to do with Washington puppet town....obama being the king puppet and we are just the sheeple slaves..............
if you don't see this, you ignorance is getting in the way of critical thinking... follow the money
The Bell will toll
The GOP wants the cliff. Yet the cliff has surprises for them.
No surprises, just pay for the stuff.............It's past due.......don't ya think
the true price of consumerism and give away to society, we have become slaves
get ready
the Bell will toll
Well Boehner - I hate to break the news to you- but there is no such person, entity, or being as "god".
and you know this how?.........(tilted head to left with right eyebrow raised)
you don't have to respond.... in fact it calls for no response........
I allready know how you know...........
the Bell will toll
If we go over the cliff, we'll be lucky if it will be only a mild recession. A loss of this magnitude in an already fragile economy is a recipe for decline in sales which will result in a decline in employment. Once the snowball goes rolling, fear begets fear and a severe recession could develop since the Fed has already maxed out its arsenal using the money supply. The wealthy can weather this storm, but the already weakened poor and middle class will be hard hit. Be careful of what you wish for or we may yet see a depression.
The Republicans made a 12 trillion dollar debt and the Dems have added another 7 on their watch. You cannot "grow" an economy by paying off debt. You have to have stimulus to create consumption. Paying off an old debt is merely paying for prior consumption. You don't worry about paying off your mortgage if you don't have a job and need that money to survive. You have to get a job / raise your income first and then you can pay down the mortgage. We went from a 17 trillion economy to 14 during the recession. When we recover and become a 17 trillion economy again, taxes generated from that activity will be almost a trillion in gross receipts, covering most of the deficit and with that gain in activity, most likely employment will go up and fewer will need to be on the government dole reducing it's expenses.
We have a structural problem, you can not build an economy on consumption........or social media.........or cell phones..........
this is what the Mayans were talking about.....
the Bell will toll
The US GDP is 70% consumption. Government is another 23%. The reason Reagan did supply side economics was to deficit spend to goose the economy. The reason G.W. Bush deficit spent and gave tax rebates was to goose the economy into spending. When the private sector will not spend (with corps sitting on over a trillion in cash), the government is the only other driver large enough to stimulate the economy. Once money starts moving around going from one person to another, taxable events happen and the government get it cut. It is said that if money changes hands in a taxable event seven times, all of it returns to the government. The reason it doesn't go back is because it is being hoarded by individuals who do not need to consume and invests it instead. That's why the Bush tax rebates failed. The recipients of the lion's share merely paid of existing debt or invested it stead of spending it, depriving the government of the income taxes it would have generated.
The great windy douchebag at it again I see. He has to drum up some anti-Obama stuff because he is up for re-election. If he does not dump on Obama the dumbasses in his party will primary him. How inept at his job is he if he cannot do it without Obama holding his hand?
As for Boehner and his God talk. There is a simple way to do this. Wait till next year, get all of the new Dem's on-board and the Moderate Republicans and tell the Tea Party to go sit on a rusty poll. Get the fix done and send it to the Senate.
Each side only represents those voters who elected them. The Dems are told by their constituents to vote a certain way and the Republicans are doing the same. To do otherwise is risking their chances at reelection. If they were voted in to favor a certain policy, then they are compelled to capitulate even if they know it's would not be in the best interest of themselves or their supporters. Thus the lunacy of politics.
new rule...nothing done, no pay. However, this is just another scare tactic by your friendly neighborhood politicians. There is no fiscal cliff, it's all hype bolstered by fear of some calamity in the markets. How can this lead to another recession when we haven't even left the current one. These people are fools and their not fooling anyone with all this shenanigans. Can this be anymore transparent. As always, government is not the solution, government is the problem. I say the hell with all of them....
agree.......
the Bell will toll
The wealth class supporting the Republicans sees that capitulating to Obama's demands will raise their taxes and if they refuse and we all go over the "cliff" their taxes will still go up. So what's the benefit of giving into Obama's demands? To make the lives of the 98% better at their expense? How dare they! Of course if they can pay their workers less and take away their benefits, healthcare, retirement, or make tax laws that favor their businesses or investments... that's different.
take the stick out of your eye............
don't spew sheeple dew.....
This has nothing to do with any of that.....
we are already slaves..........
the Bell will toll
Hey Bonner, there is no god, now take your head out of your ass and get the job done.
Boehner needs to go find something else to do. He's the poster-child of the "party of no".
"How we get there? God only knows."
God has no more idea of how to get legislation past the tea party than anyone else. Perhaps the devil knows since he is a tea party member.
Amazing how many people here believe the spin (some might call lies) that the media puts on this, as evident by their blasting Boehner.
Look this up people, this is what actually happened (though you wouldn't think so reading this and other articles).
Boehner proposed a plan (plan B) and put it up for a vote. What most people don't realize is that the VOTE, was on whether to vote on it for approval. Sounds funny, but this is actually how it goes, let's vote on whether or not we should take a vote.
Boehner put too many concessions in it for some Republicans (30% to be exact), so only 70% of the Republicans voted to go ahead with a vote. But virutally all the Democrats voted not to vote on it.
So, one headline said that Boehner plan was "pulled by Boehner" before it could be voted on. I may not be an English major, but considering the House did take a vote (a vote on whether to vote on it) and it failed, and therefore that doesn't seem entirely accurate (IT'S A BOLD FACED LIE).
Another headline said that the Republicans failed to pass it. Considering everyone in the house voted (including the democrats) this also seems to have the intent to deceive.
Quite simple, if the democrats propose a plan, and it fails because even though a majority of the democrats support it, but a majority of the republicans oppose it, I believe it's fairly accurate to blame the Republicans for it not passing, but when you reverse that vote for a Republican plan, and then AGAIN blame the failure of the vote on the 30% of the Republicans that said no, and not the almost unaminous "No" vote of the democrats,,,,,,,,, that we call HYPOCRITICAL.
Don't look now MSN, NBC, CBS,,,,, but your bias is showing.
bias or not, somebody has to fight pure evil and besides that, the GOP has Fox who are more than proud to admit that they lie and deceive.
evidently you don't understand that it's possible to be biased, and still not lie and deceive. I watch Fox and am the first to admit they are biased, but I don't see as much lies or deception there as I do on msnbc.
We used to be a democracy - which means the majority rules; and we used to have government of the people, by the people, for the people. Now money rules, and we have a government of the people by the few wealthy and the corporations. Our elected officials need to stop worrying about pleasing those funding their next campaigns, stop worrying about their party politics, and start representing the citizens of the USA. And everyone needs to remember that every freedom comes with responsibility.