House pulls tax cut extension and spending reforms

Washington Times:

House Republicans won an early test in their quest to pass their Plan B approach to the “fiscal cliff” when the chamber approved a bill to replace the looming $110 billion in spending cuts looming early next month with deeper cuts to health care and other programs.

The 215-209 vote was close, and saw nearly 20 Republicans side with Democrats in opposing the plan. And it presages an even tougher vote later Thursday when House Republican leaders ask their members to vote on a bill that would amount to a tax increase on those making more than $1 million.

“We’re going to have the votes,” Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican, vowed to reporters earlier Thursday.

Much is riding on the later vote on income tax rates. Should Republicans win, it will be a major boost in leverage for House Speaker John A. Boehner as he negotiates with President Obama on the fiscal cliff. But should he fail, he will be wounded, both with his colleagues and in the talks with Mr. Obama.

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With this vote the Republicans also need to fix the blame on any tax increases for the middle class on Democrats.  One of the Republican's problems in the past year is they have not been attacking the Democrats.  The Republicans have not adequately responded to the bogus arguments of the Democrats on taxes or the budget.  They need to do so aggressively.

Update:  The vote on the bill was cancelled.  Apparently the leadership did not have the votes.  The Times does not explain why it got the vote wrong.

While this is a blow to Boehner, it is not good news for the President.  The Republicans lacked the votes because many members were dissatisfied with the tax increases.  I think it would have been even harder to get the votes for the "deal" that the President was pushing.