Tuesday, October 27, 2015
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republican leaders today pushed toward a vote on a two-year budget deal despite conservative opposition, relying on the backing of Democrats for the far-reaching pact struck with President Barack Obama.
In his last days as speaker, John Boehner was intent on getting the measure through Congress and head off a market-rattling debt crisis next week and a debilitating government shutdown in December.
The deal also would take budget showdowns off the table until after the 2016 presidential and congressional elections, a potential boon to the eventual GOP nominee and incumbents facing tough re-election fights.
"The agreement isn't perfect by any means, but the alternative was a clean debt limit increase" without any entitlement reform or money for troops, Boehner told reporters. "So this is a good deal."
The Ohio Republican later said his goal was to "clean out the barn" for the next speaker. "I've done my best to clean it up," he said.
Conservatives were resigned to the outcome.
"We can't stop it. He's in league with the Democrats," Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said of Boehner this morning. "I mean I don't think there's anything you can do at this point."
But Massie also said "it's a long game" and conservatives are winning the war as they have forced Boehner to resign.