Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Boehner Still Holds The Key

Today is December 26th.  Only five days remain before the country goes over the fiscal cliff.
One would think that our illustrious members of congress would be in Washington feverishly working out a deal that would save the country from another recession. 
Sadly that is not the case.  Most of them are still at home, enjoying their families and trying to explain to their constituents why their membership in the most unproductive congress in US history matters. 
Speaker Boehner has withdrawn from the fiscal cliff negotiations having suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of his own party.  He says that it is now up to the president and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to craft a plan that will be able to pass the gridlock of the House.
Not so fast my orange friend.
While Boehner might like to wash his hands of this whole mess it is he and he alone who will decide if we go over that cliff. 
You see, no matter what the president and Harry Reid cobble together it is certain to include a tax increase.  And the Tea Party members of Boehner’s caucus say that they will never, ever, ever vote for anything that includes an increase in taxes.  So the only way this gets done before the cliff jumping begins is for Reid and Obama to put together a bill that passes the Democrat controlled Senate.  Then Boehner must be willing to call for a House vote on the bill that includes a small handful of moderate Republicans who are willing to vote for passage with the House Democrats.  Boehner has vowed that he will not call for a vote on ANY bill unless it is supported by a majority of his Republican caucus. 
So unless Boehner is able to control the Tea Party radicals or is willing to go back on his vow…nothing will pass.
Happy Holidays!          

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