A week ago, we reported that unlike on previous occasions, this time Boehner decided to fold like a lawn chair early in this year’s debt ceiling hike debate, and sure enough moments ago Politico confirmed as much when it reported that “House Republicans are abandoning their plan to lift the debt limit and restore military pension cuts due to flagging support from the rank and file. The announcement was made Tuesday morning in a private GOP meeting.” As we also predicted, Politico adds that “now, the GOP will have to pass a so-called clean lift of the debt ceiling — one without policy strings attached. But even that won’t be easy. Senior Republican lawmakers and aides are openly wondering just how many of their members will vote for a clean debt ceiling — Democrats will have to bear the brunt of passing the bill, GOP insiders say.” And the punchline for the vote, which is set for Wednesday, “Senior GOP sources wonder if they’ll be able to get 18 Republicans to vote for a debt ceiling increase — the bare minimum for passage if every Democrat votes yes.”
