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The House just passed the “Spending Reduction Act of 2012” bill, by a vote of 215 to 209:
The House passed H.R. 6684, the Spending Reduction Act of 2012, in a 215-209-1 vote. twitter.com/GOPLeader/stat…— Eric Cantor (@GOPLeader) December 20, 2012
"The first of two measures related to Speaker John Boehner's 'Plan B' tax proposal, HR 6684 would put off the sequestration, or automatic spending cuts, for one year, replacing it with other spending cuts," C-SPAN explains.
"The House will then proceed with a series of roll call votes before taking up H J Res 66, Permanent Tax Relief for Families and Small Business Act. This measure would permanently extend the Bush-era tax rates for everyone on the first $1 million of earned income. Those earning more than $1 million would pay a higher tax rate," the report adds.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has assured members of the press that her Democrat colleagues won't support Speaker Boehner's "Plan B" proposal and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said that the Senate will not hear the proposal even if it passes the House.
President Obama has vowed to veto "Plan B."
UPDATE(S):
It appears Speaker Boehner's backup tax bill has run into a bit of trouble:
The House is now in an unscheduled recess, prompting the Q, does Boehner have the votes for Plan B? Yowsa. #fiscalcliff— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) December 21, 2012
If Boehner can't even get Plan B out of House, playing right into @presssec hands about going down "alley with no exit"— Ed Henry (@edhenryTV) December 21, 2012
Boehner calls special conference meeting at 7:45— Daniel Newhauser (@dnewhauser) December 21, 2012
Clearly this is a signal that they don't have the votes. It doesn't mean they won't get them, but clearly there is trouble for Plan B— Susan Ferrechio (@susanferrechio) December 21, 2012
There are reports that Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) has been seen trying to rally his former House colleagues to support "Plan B." However, based on other reports surrounding the impending vote, it doesn't seem to be working:
Asked whether Republicans will can Plan B passed tonight, Rep Kay Granger, R-Texas, shook her head.— Jonathan Weisman (@jonathanweisman) December 21, 2012
What do you suppose is going on in that Republican meeting?
Hearing booing inside this emergency house gop meeting re scramble for votes on plan b.— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) December 21, 2012
Wow. Per Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), there will be no vote tonight on the tax increase portion of "Plan B":
Cantor says no vote tonight. #fiscalcliff— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 21, 2012
The reason for postponing the vote? It's what many has already suspected: Speaker Boehner doesn't have the votes to pass it:
Boehner: "The House did not take up the tax measure today because it did not have sufficient support from our members to pass"— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) December 21, 2012
And then there's this:
House is adjourning for the week, per Cantor's office. Will return 'when needed' after Christmas holiday— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) December 21, 2012
Final Thought:
if Boehner can't get Plan B passed, there are no votes for an Obama/Boehner deal either. We are going over the cliff.— Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) December 21, 2012
Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter
Featured images courtesy the AP.
