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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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Where are we going? An ancient vision says: "And [the king of the north] will go back (to) his land with great wealth [1945]; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant [state atheism]; and will act [it means activity in the international arena]; and turned back to his own land [1991-1993. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Russian troops returned to their country]. At the appointed time [he] will return back." (Daniel 11:28, 29a, literal translation) The return of Russia in this context means crisis, which will eclipse the Great Depression. Not only the eurozone will break up, but also the European Union and NATO. Then many countries of the former Eastern block will return to Russia's zone of influence. Russian troops will be stationed here again.
This will be the last sign before the global nuclear war. (Daniel 11:29b, 30a; Numbers 24:23, 24; Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:4)
All the details of this vision are being fulfilled from the time of ancient Persia, in chronological order. It is true that this vision is variously interpreted. As one can see, it has a lot of details. Therefore the insightful person is able to detect any error or sophistry. (Daniel 12:10)
In 1882 British troops occupied Egypt. Great Britain then took the role of "the king of the south". Around the same time, Russia expanded its influence in the region, which previously belonged to Seleucus I Nicator, and took the role of "the king of the north". (Daniel 11:27)
The World is a different place and the Media is right on top of it more than ever. Banning Guns is not the answer. Protecting our children is. If armed security and machines will keep deranged adults from entering our childrens schools, then the cost should not be an issue.
Republican politicians are so opposed to raising taxes that they're going to raise everybody's taxes, just to show how opposed they are. Who elected these guys? Oh yeah, the crazies. Since most Republicans are on welfare, it won't affect them anyway.
wait a minute I thought they talk with God????and knew what God wanted
Stopping the out of control spending will stop the problem!
like what spending...please tell??
waiting????what kind of spending...like our own money..we have accumulated over the years...you know like what is ours????
ralph, you don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about. We had a $787 billion stimulus package, one third in tax cuts, and far too small to do the job. Every other damned cent they spent was caused by payments required by the depression that started on Bush's watch, Bush's wars, the interest on Bush's wars, interest on borrowed money to pay for Bush's tax cuts for the rich, Bush's drug program. You people don't understand math, and I'm sick of you, you're not worthy of this discussion.
wait a minute I thought they talk with God????and knew what God wanted
Ralph..i know what your talking about spending on big oil..right we tax payers give them billions a year right..wink wink??
The markets are already starting to talk and we still have the debt ceiling deabate still looms. The is clearly willing to do untold damge to this country unless they are treated as if they are in control. Obama gets to make no compromise. The only decision he is faced with is whether to cave to their demands again (as in the last Bush tax negotiations). But to do so again would amount to capitulating to the most revolting group of politicians ever seen in this country. America cannot afford this any longer. Rates for the ultra wealthy are at an all-time low we suffer asa nation for it. They complain about debt but starve the revenue side.
Any one taking the GOP side in this is simply brainless. They are defending the undefensible. But clearly there are such people out there. We can only pity them.
The Tea party and the NRA are looking crazier every day. If things continue to deteriorate, we might need to build bigger loony bins for these guys. I hate to think that we will have to pay for these lazy, shiftless babies to sit around and bitch at each other but it might work out better for everyone.
This might work, give all those human cockroachs guns in those loony bins and then turn out the lights.
We complain Congress is flawed, yet we don't let our children talk to stangers, but we encourage them to sit on a masked strangers lap.
If John Boehner loses his job, If he hurries up he can still be a stand in for Rudolph the red-nose Reindeer.
Just think? John McCain can be one of the elves.
Just don't let John McCain fly the sleigh. We know how that would end up.
Republicons - Merry Christmas! Your party just committed ritual mass suicide. No really, it's over. Clean out your desks.
Shame ON YOU!!!!!! They don't have desks.
But they don't pay Union dues!
Best job in the world if you can lie your way into it.
What is going to come down to on the plans for the fiscal cliff in the house is,( Show me yours and I'll Show you mine) Who ever has the biggest shaft for Americans wins.
If you are so concerned about the Countries status ,your best help would be for you BOEHNER to resign. You have been and will continue to be a loser and that results damages the country. GIVE IT UP so this country can once again start to become the greatest in our lifetime. Losers like Boehner hold this country back and we deserve better.
I'm sorry to disagree but I don't think we can get a Better Boner. No puds iintended.
Be especially aware of the few greedy individuals that would clip the wings of the american Eagle in order to feather their own nest. FDR said that back in 1934 and it is especially true today! This party can still brainwash and make the poor vote for them . Go Figure?
Sorry Ed one beer and I say that. LOL
Is it not amazing all these Libtard, Obozo sarcastic speaking nighties are not joining us here. I wonder why? Maybe the Mayans predicted the end of the republican party on their calender? Just guessing.
And hoping!
You dopes, that think Obama has offered anything that even comes close to fixing the issue... One trillion over 10 years gets our debt paid off in about 200 years. That would be like us still paying for President Lincolns grandfathers debt. Its all talking points. It will solve nothing.
God knows what? He knows how badly we have fuc&ed up that's for sure. He's probably laughing his @ss off right know at these inept clowns. These idiots we have running our government would make the bad news bears look like winners. But as I sit here and think about it, I'm not sure what God can do for these confused bigots. Yea, we need God alright, to take a bat and crack some skulls in Washington.