Just before the GOP presidential debate began on CNBC, the House passed a budget agreement negotiated between Congress and the White House. The deal would, among other things, raise the debt ceiling by March 2017. This angered conservative Republicans on the Hill, who were already discouraged by the way the deal was struck, given that negotiations reportedly began last month. Many on the right call it a legislative “capitulation” in the details of the debt deal. Guy had more on this in his analysis of the deal. A total of 79 Republicans and every Democrat voted for the deal (via Policy):
The House passed an $80 billion budget deal on Wednesday that would eliminate high-stakes fiscal battles through 2017 and close the book on the nearly seven-year budget wars that helped define President Barack Obama’s presidency.
The 266-167 vote was a solid victory for Republican leaders, who have often struggled to secure sufficient GOP support for budgets, leading to a seemingly endless cycle of indefinite government shutdowns and maneuvering on the brink.
However, 79 Republicans joined 187 Democrats to adopt the agreement, giving Speaker John Boehner a final legislative victory before he retires at the end of the week. The Ohio Republican, along with Senate GOP leaders and the White House, played a key role in brokering the deal as Boehner worked to “clear the barn” before his successor, Paul D. Ryan, took over the speaker’s gavel.
Boehner welcomed the agreement once it passed and highlighted changes the measure made to entitlement programs that helped offset spending increases from the measure.
For Boehner, it’s “barn clearing” and for Ryan, who ultimately backed the deal as he steps back from public life. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has already threatened to filibuster the deal in the Senate.
#Beating House approves budget/debt deal, 266 to 167. 79 GOP yes. 167 GOP no. 187 Yes. 0 No
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 28, 2015
Unless the Senate reaches an agreement to postpone the procedural vote on the debt/budget agreement, the vote to close the parliament will take place on Friday. Sen. Paul threatens filibuster.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 28, 2015
There could be a vote on the budget/debt deal tomorrow. If not, the procedural vote will be on Friday. The final vote could take place on Friday, the week or Monday.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 28, 2015
