Boehner Delays Vote After CBO Says Plan Falls Short

Though it's possible dissenting members could delay things

(NEWSER) - The payroll tax cut deal is expected to be ratified today, with congressional leaders planning voice votes that would require just a handful of members to be present, the Washington Post reports. Politico notes that the House will be using unanimous consent rules, however, meaning a dissenting member could force a vote next week. Because of the timing, disapproving members will have a hard time making it back to DC in time, but there are at least two who may object and force House members to return next week. More»

Mitch McConnell, Tea Party at the forefront: Chris Cillizza

(NEWSER) - The debt-deal dust has yet to settle, but that's not stopping anyone from analyzing its political consequences. In the Washington Post , Chris Cillizza notes the winners:

• Mitch McConnell was “the Mariano Rivera of the debt deal. He waited until the game was in its final moments, came onto the field and helped close things down.”
• The Tea Party showed its sway, driving John Boehner to delay his bill and “add conservative sweeteners to get the 217 votes he needed.”

President will meet with key lawmakers next week

(NEWSER) - Step aside, Joe. A day after congressional Republicans called off debt-reduction talks with Vice President Joe Biden, the White House announced President Obama will meet directly with key lawmakers next week, reports the Washington Post . Obama will meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday. More»

Boehner slams claim over 'double-counting'

(NEWSER) - Republicans have hit a potential roadblock in their quest to dump health care reform: the price. Repeal would add $230 billion to the deficit by 2021, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Reform itself, the CBO has said, would reduce the deficit by $143 billion over a decade. Moreover, the CBO finds, repeal would cut the number of Americans with health insurance in 2019 by some 32 million, Politico reports. More»

John Boehner, Mitch McConnell lament 2 years of 'misplaced priorities'

(NEWSER) - Further evidence that today's summit-that-isn't-quite-a-summit between Republicans and Democrats won't yield many kumbayas: Mitch McConnell and John Boehner stake out their position on working with Democrats in a Washington Post op-ed and say they're happy to do so—provided President Obama and company are willing to "move away from the misplaced priorities of the past two years" and embrace GOP positions on tax cuts, health care, lower spending, etc. More»