House GOP: We have the votes for "Plan B"

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Cantor: "We're going to have the votes" to pass "Plan B"

Updated 1:45 p.m. ET

As the House readies for an expected vote on an alternate plan, dubbed "Plan B," to avoid massive tax hikes on all income earners, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said he is confident he will have enough support to pass their plan.

"We're going to have the votes," Cantor told reporters this morning.

"Plan B," a scaled-back measure that extends tax rates for everyone except those making $1 million, comes to the House floor at the unilateral direction of Republican leadership just days after it seemed talks between House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and President Obama were progressing to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff." Both sides offered major concessions to move toward compromise, but aides tell CBS News White House correspondent Major Garrett that Boehner didn't have enough support in his party to pass his proposal that included $1 trillion worth of revenue increases.

While "Plan B" would raise taxes on millionaires, which is something Democrats support, it does not go far enough for Democrats who want higher tax rates for more income earners. The president's latest "fiscal cliff" offer would raise the marginal tax rate to 39.6 percent on those making more than $400,000, a concession from his previous demand that taxes go up for households making more than $250,000.

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Boehner: Dems' "Plan B" is "slow walk" over "fiscal cliff"

Boehner said he is doing his part by offering "Plan B"  to ensure taxes don't increase on millions of Americans in the New Year. "It will be up to Senate Democrats and the White House to act," he told reporters today.

While Cantor says they have the votes to pass the alternative, some Republicans expressed reservations because it would raise taxes on about 400,000 families, or about 0.2 percent of Americans.

Boehner's proposal doesn't abide by "clear conservative, clear Republican principles," Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan, told CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

Perhaps offering Republicans an out, in an about-face, anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist said Boehner's proposal does not raise taxes. Other outside conservative groups, however, including the Heritage Foundation and FreedomWorks, are urging Republicans to vote against "Plan B", saying it does raise taxes.

• Does Boehner's "Plan B" have the votes to pass?
• Complete coverage: "Fiscal cliff"

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Reid: "Boehner's plans are nonstarters in the Senate"

Generally opposed to raising any taxes at all, Republicans are also reluctant to vote for a plan that has already been declared dead in the Senate by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., if it passes the House. "Speaker Boehner's plans are non-starters in the Senate," Reid reiterated today. 

Even if it somehow cleared both houses of Congress, the White House announced Wednesday that it would veto "Plan B."

Another reason some Republicans also objected to Boehner's "Plan B" because it doesn't include spending cuts. Republican leadership addressed that concern Thursday morning, however, by offering a second piece of legislation that cuts $200 billion from the federal budget.

House Republicans "are taking concrete actions" to avert the "fiscal cliff" and reduce spending, Cantor said. "Absent a balanced offer from the president, this is our nation's best option."

During a news conference Wednesday, the president said Republicans "keep on finding ways to say no as opposed to finding ways to say yes" on agreeing to a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff."

He added that it's time for the Republicans to step up and compromise because its' "what the country needs."

The president pointed out their proposals are only "a few hundred billion dollars" apart. "The idea that we would put our economy at risk because you can't bridge that cap doesn't make a lot of sense," he said.

The president's latest proposal includes about $1.2 trillion dollars of revenue increases and $800 billion in spending cuts. Boehner said it's not balanced. His latest offer is, which is not what the House is voting on today, includes about $1 trillion in spending cuts and $1 trillion in tax increases.

[darkhorseky]

I am glad to live in the US. We do have a balance system most of the times.I must say Dems are smart. Even if they recieve all they want. The economy is in bad shape. The TRILLIONS that we owe is never talked about. Cuts will have to happen , just cant help it. Us as citizens are tring to save money , pay off our debt and have money. Goverment policey give money away for 0 percent. Keep its citizens in debt. So how is that good for citizens? So like alot of Dems moves is to say they WILL NOT RAISE TAXES. But local Goverments will raise taxes for those programs that needs money. Dems look good. BUT YOU TAXES WILL STILL RISE. Taking from the rich to give to the poor just a fairy tale. Also a way to control your vote.

[mainedemocrat]

Are these people EVER right (by that i mean correct :-)???

[bluejacket2-2009]

The millionares will finally pay, so will everyone else but so be it... thank you Boner...

[easydoesit114]

I agree with Laura O'Donnell's comment that it appears the Republicans are protecting millionaires. And to what end? Where/What is the Republican stance on the impact of going over the fiscal cliff for lower income Americans. Aren't these people the ones that will be hurt the most?
I get the sense that our President is concerned about that and I get the sense that Boehner and many of his fellow Republicans are more interested in protecting the wealthy from any harm the fiscal cliff may cause them.

[CASurfer]

If being middle class the "cliff" is 50' for me, and 5' for the wealthy, who is at greater risk for injury?

[bluejacket2-2009]

BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

No you don't Boehner... what a joke you are.

[Wingsfan1983]

In Engalnd that would be a no confidence vote.

I wonder if he is crying.

[rscalzo]

Somehow calling the future of the country "Plan B" isn't so comforting. I'm beginning to think the entire GOP thought that the world really would end on Dec. 21st. and didn't feel the need to put any effort into this?

[Leftydems]

On the way, comrade. Castro, Chavez, and Putin all love Obama. Read what the Russians say we are in for on this course ... and they should know.
Type PRAVDA ENGLISH OBAMA into your search engine to view Russians' opinion. Or, paste this into your browser.

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/10-12-2012/123106-obama_laughter-0/

[nearl451]

Sure. You jackasses alternate between calling the fellow and Communist Dictator and inept/powerless.

Well which is it then?! Make up yoor minds.

ALL on an article of how the HOuse GOP can't pull its head out of its own rear.

What a pitiful excuse for a post.

[Wingsfan1983]

Agreed Nearl. lefty not only is a sad case but another example of the extreme right.

MOST AMERICANS VIEW THE GOP AS EXTREAME! GET IT!

[jimbo_joker]

WE have the votes takes its place in history right along with unions are bad, guns are good, trickle down works, corporations are people and numerous other GOP fauxities.

[BWB2020]

"House GOP: We have the votes for "Plan B"

"Breaking House Speaker John Boehner cancels "Plan B" vote; says he didn't have the votes"

The right wing has not been correct with their predictions ever since Mr. Obama's primary in 2008.

I'll give those suckers credit though, it takes stones to still stand in front of a public that knows that they are complete idiots.

Maybe they should take a cue from the doomsday predictors this year, all of whom have been wrong. Blame it on counting errors, then push the date back a few months, and hopefully everyone will forget about it, until the new date rolls around, and they fail then also!

[nearl451]

LOFL.

[tryingtodogoodwork]

Boner is a beaner. I can't imagine ever again voting for a Republican.

[BWB2020]

You mean you once did?

Wow.

Well at least you see the error of your ways, quite unlike many other GOP-ers!