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House GOP moves closer to debt-limit strategy, but still no consensus, Boehner says House GOP may try to link debt ceiling approval to Obamacare changes
(about 1 hour later)
In a closed-door meeting Tuesday morning, House Republicans moved closer to a consensus on a debt-limit strategy, but according to House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), internal talks are ongoing and legislation is unlikely to emerge this week. House Republicans were coalescing around a strategy on Tuesday that links a one-year extension of the debt ceiling to a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s risk corridors, which limit the amount of money that a health-insurance plan can make and lose during the first three years it is sold on the new health-care exchanges. Republicans see the corridors as bailouts for the insurance industry if they start losing money.
But two leading House conservatives indicated that they do not want a dramatic standoff on the debt limit, signaling a break from the combative fiscal politics they have long championed, and Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said internal talks are ongoing.
“There was a lot of discussion about whether we should proceed and, if we proceeded, how we would proceed,” Boehner told reporters at a news conference. “No decisions have been made.”“There was a lot of discussion about whether we should proceed and, if we proceeded, how we would proceed,” Boehner told reporters at a news conference. “No decisions have been made.”
Two plans have emerged as popular options. The first would link a one-year extension to a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s risk corridors, and the second would ask President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline in exchange for a debt-limit extension. A second option being considered by the Republican leadership would ask President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline in exchange for a debt-limit extension.
Both ideas were first discussed last week at the House GOP’s annual retreat in Cambridge, Md., a closed-door affair where House Republicans conferred about their legislative agenda. Both the health care and the Keystone ideas were first discussed last week at the House GOP’s annual retreat in Cambridge, Md., a closed-door affair where House Republicans conferred about their legislative agenda.
Members have mentioned other debt-limit proposals, such as reforms to the federal budgeting process, though those options are, for now, below the radar. Instead, House Republicans are focused on whether to use energy policy or health care as a bargaining chip.Members have mentioned other debt-limit proposals, such as reforms to the federal budgeting process, though those options are, for now, below the radar. Instead, House Republicans are focused on whether to use energy policy or health care as a bargaining chip.
In a small huddle after the conference-wide session, Boehner and other House GOP leaders privately agreed that the risk-corridors proposal was gathering momentum. Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) sense that House Republicans will end up rallying behind that plan in the coming days.In a small huddle after the conference-wide session, Boehner and other House GOP leaders privately agreed that the risk-corridors proposal was gathering momentum. Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) sense that House Republicans will end up rallying behind that plan in the coming days.
A “clean” debt-limit hike — one with no strings attached — has not been ruled out and Boehner reiterated his desire to avoid a federal default. But House Republicans are likely to first try to extract a political price from Obama and Democrats in exchange for Republican backing of an extension. Still, a “clean” debt-limit hike — one with no strings attached — has not been ruled out and Boehner reiterated his desire to avoid a federal default.
“We should bring up a clean debt ceiling, let the Democrats pass it, and just move on,” Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) said. “Our constituents are fed up with the political theater. If we’re not going to fight for something specific, we might as well let the Democrats own it.”
Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) agreed. “It’s theater,” he said, commenting on the latest flurry of stories about possible GOP plans. “It’s going to end up being clean anyway. I don’t see anything they can put on the table that I would support as some sort of tradeoff.”
But other House Republicans are likely to first try to extract a political price from Obama and Democrats in exchange for Republican backing of an extension.
Settling on a strategy that can win 200-plus GOP votes is Boehner’s chief goal, according to his aides. His whip team will fan out through the House this week to get a better sense of whether members are coalescing around a particular option. Months after the poll-sinking government shutdown and months before the midterm elections, Boehner is looking to keep the Republican drama to minimum.Settling on a strategy that can win 200-plus GOP votes is Boehner’s chief goal, according to his aides. His whip team will fan out through the House this week to get a better sense of whether members are coalescing around a particular option. Months after the poll-sinking government shutdown and months before the midterm elections, Boehner is looking to keep the Republican drama to minimum.
“Listen, I don’t do the vote counting,” Boehner told reporters, when asked about House GOP dynamics. “The goal here is to increase the debt ceiling. Nobody wants to default on our debt. But while we’re doing this, we’ve got to do something” on jobs or the economy.“Listen, I don’t do the vote counting,” Boehner told reporters, when asked about House GOP dynamics. “The goal here is to increase the debt ceiling. Nobody wants to default on our debt. But while we’re doing this, we’ve got to do something” on jobs or the economy.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a top Boehner ally, said the speaker would spend this week “looking for the sweet spot.”
Boehner grew angry when a reporter suggested that Republicans might be pushing “for something as complex as the Keystone pipeline.”Boehner grew angry when a reporter suggested that Republicans might be pushing “for something as complex as the Keystone pipeline.”
“Complex? You think the Keystone pipeline is complex?” Boehner said as he raised his voice. “It’s been under study for five years. We build pipelines everywhere in America every day. Do you realize there are 200,000 miles of pipelines in the United States? And the only reason that the president’s involved in the Keystone pipeline decision is that it crosses an international boundary. Listen — there’s nothing complex about the Keystone pipeline. It’s time to build it.”“Complex? You think the Keystone pipeline is complex?” Boehner said as he raised his voice. “It’s been under study for five years. We build pipelines everywhere in America every day. Do you realize there are 200,000 miles of pipelines in the United States? And the only reason that the president’s involved in the Keystone pipeline decision is that it crosses an international boundary. Listen — there’s nothing complex about the Keystone pipeline. It’s time to build it.”
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a top Boehner ally, said the speaker would spend this week “looking for the sweet spot.”
“After the State Department’s report on the pipeline, that becomes an easier pitch,” Cole said. “But the risk corridors item was popular at the retreat and remains popular.”“After the State Department’s report on the pipeline, that becomes an easier pitch,” Cole said. “But the risk corridors item was popular at the retreat and remains popular.”
Risk corridors, a part of the Affordable Care Act, limit both the amount of money that a health-insurance plan can make and lose during the first three years it is sold on the new health-care exchanges. Republicans see it as a way to bailout the insurance industry, if they start losing money.
The growing tension is already apparent. Some conservatives have said they would urge Boehner to link repeal of the risk corridors to any debt-limit demand, believing the federal health-care law must be part of the negotiations. Other Republicans have said tying the pipeline to the debt limit is a better play.The growing tension is already apparent. Some conservatives have said they would urge Boehner to link repeal of the risk corridors to any debt-limit demand, believing the federal health-care law must be part of the negotiations. Other Republicans have said tying the pipeline to the debt limit is a better play.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a conservative caucus, said merely connecting the pipeline to the debt limit would not guarantee conservative backing.Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a conservative caucus, said merely connecting the pipeline to the debt limit would not guarantee conservative backing.
“Keystone ought to be approved on its own merits; it doesn’t need to be tied to the debt ceiling,” he said. “I’d like to see a repeal of the bailouts for the insurance companies. That’s becoming a real strong prospect. It’d be good to put it on the table.”“Keystone ought to be approved on its own merits; it doesn’t need to be tied to the debt ceiling,” he said. “I’d like to see a repeal of the bailouts for the insurance companies. That’s becoming a real strong prospect. It’d be good to put it on the table.”
Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said Scalise’s perspective has currency in a conference that has a conservative bent.Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said Scalise’s perspective has currency in a conference that has a conservative bent.
“Chairman Scalise and the RSC are very interested in that one,” he said as he left the meeting. “It’s going to take some time. There was a lot of talk about risk corridors at the retreat, but there are some others issues we’re going to look at, too.”“Chairman Scalise and the RSC are very interested in that one,” he said as he left the meeting. “It’s going to take some time. There was a lot of talk about risk corridors at the retreat, but there are some others issues we’re going to look at, too.”
Added Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the budget committee chairman: “I want to get us to consensus, and we’re working on doing that.”Added Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the budget committee chairman: “I want to get us to consensus, and we’re working on doing that.”
Boehner also said during Tuesday’s conference meeting he would like to see the House act before the Senate, in order for the House to be in a better position to shape the final negotiated product. If the House takes too long to reach debt-limit consensus, he warned that Senate Democrats could send over their own debt-limit plan.Boehner also said during Tuesday’s conference meeting he would like to see the House act before the Senate, in order for the House to be in a better position to shape the final negotiated product. If the House takes too long to reach debt-limit consensus, he warned that Senate Democrats could send over their own debt-limit plan.
“We’re in the process of sorting it out,” Cole said. “The number one question is: How do we get to 218 votes? We want to do this in a non-crisis atmosphere, so we have to move soon and work with the administration and see if they want to do anything.”“We’re in the process of sorting it out,” Cole said. “The number one question is: How do we get to 218 votes? We want to do this in a non-crisis atmosphere, so we have to move soon and work with the administration and see if they want to do anything.”