Speaker Boehner is in the difficult position of not only trying to avert the Fiscal Cliff, but he also has to keep in mind how can he retain his speaker role in the House.

Last night the Senate passed a bipartisan deal with a 89-8 vote, yes my Republican friends the senate deal was overwhelmingly supported by both Republicans and Democrats.  House Republicans have come out today stating their disapproval of the bill the senate passed, they are complaining about the lack of spending cuts in the senate’s bill.  This is something Speaker Boehner warned House Republicans what would happen if they failed to come up with a deal a couple of weeks ago, he stated you will be forced to make a difficult decision on a bill that you did not have a say in and will have the pressure of the fiscal cliff to keep in mind.

Speaker Boehner and House Republicans are trying to figure out what to do with the pending deadline (that actually already passed); they have 2 options at this time…

1. Pass the Senate bill as is with no changes to it, It would prevent middle-class taxes from going up but would raise rates on higher incomes (> $450K (couples) and > $400K (single)). It would also block spending cuts for two months, extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless, prevent a 27 percent cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients and prevent a spike in milk prices.  Lawmakers will have to revisit difficult budget questions in just a few weeks.
2. The House Republicans can attach their proposed spending cuts ($300 Billion) and send the bill back to senate for a vote. This will more than likely require 100% Republican support in the House as Democrats will not support those attached cuts.

For House Republicans the 1st option would be a difficult pill to swallow… At this moment Speaker Boehner has warned House Republicans that if they do decide to amend the senate bill with proposed cuts they will more than likely set themselves up to be held responsible for the United States going over the fiscal cliff as the Senate would not likely support it.  Boehner has told House Republicans if he can get majority support (217 Repubs) to add amendments to the senate bill he will bring that to the floor of the House for a vote.

When House Republicans decided to go home for Christmas they gave up their right to amend anything!

It was the House and Speaker Boehner that decided they would stop working on a deal and wanted the Senate to come up with something.  The chance for a grand bargain deal disappeared when Speaker Boehner and the House left Washington a couple of weeks ago.

Stop playing games House Republicans, pass the Senate bill which is not the ultimate deal but it gets us past the fiscal cliff and then re-focused on reducing spending.

**Update**

Signs are that the House Repubs will take a vote on the Senate’s bill as is; no amendment with spending cuts!

If there is something to be said, “It’s On Broadway” to step up and say it!!