"How ‘Plan B’ Scrambled Fiscal Cliff Negotiations" - just posted on TPM

[NRaleighLiberal]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/how-plan-b-scrambled-fiscal-cliff-negotiations.php?ref=fpa

"BRIAN BEUTLER DECEMBER 19, 2012, 6:01 PM 1806

The clearest indication that House Speaker John Boehner’s final fiscal cliff ploy backfired came late Wednesday when he began modifying his so-called Plan B.

Plan B, recall, is legislation to lock in the Bush tax cuts for all incomes up to $1 million — a fallback plan he hopes will strengthen his negotiating hand with President Obama.

But late Wednesday, faced with a daunting whip count, Republican leaders did two things. First, they began entertaining the notion of tacking spending cuts on to the bill — to entice skeptical House conservatives to provide badly needed votes. (Their skepticism is understandable: Why should they vote for legislation designed to strengthen Boehner’s hand in deficit reduction negotiations they don’t support in the first place?)

Second, and crucially, they scotched a tandem plan to vote down legislation, supported by most Democrats, extending the Bush tax cuts for income up to $250,000."

snip

[spanone]

1. they hate each other almost as much as i hate them.

[a geek named Bob]

2. This is better than pole-vaulting wrestlers leaping onto NASCARS

[OKNancy]

3. Thanks for posting... I read the entire article

Boehner is screwed