House to vote on "fiscal cliff" tonight

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., left, and Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, arrive to a second Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. / AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin

Updated at 8:05 p.m. ET

The House will hold a straight vote on the "fiscal cliff" bill passed by the Senate overnight - a major step in finally averting several effects of the "cliff."

If the bill passes the House, it moves on to President Obama for his signature, ending weeks of fighting about how to deal with the tax hikes and spending cuts that began hitting the country today.

It wasn't easy getting to this point today in the House. After meeting with the Republican conference and listening to members' concerns, House Speaker John Boehner presented them with two options, a GOP leadership aide said: The first option would be to offer an amendment to the Senate bill that would add a $323 billion package of spending cuts. If GOP leaders couldn't muster enough support for the amendment idea, the second option would be to vote on the Senate bill as-is.

As it turned out, House Republican leadership scuttled the amendment idea and announced they would vote on an unamended version of the Senate bill.

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House Republicans oppose latest "fiscal cliff" bill

Earlier in the day, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House, declared his opposition to the Senate-passed "fiscal cliff" deal, threatening to put the deal in peril. 

"I do not support the bill," Cantor said walking out of a conference meeting in which House Republicans discussed the "fiscal cliff" deal passed in the Senate overnight.

A number of other House Republicans today expressed serious concerns about the lack of spending cuts in the Senate bill, CBS News' Jill Jackson reports. Some GOP members said they would vote against the deal for that reason. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report today estimating that the Senate bill would add $329 billion to deficits in 2013 and $3.9 trillion to deficits over the next 10 years, relative to current law.

Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said after today's first conference meeting that the lack of spending cuts in the Senate bill "was a universal concern amongst members."

"The Speaker and Leader laid out options to the members and listened to feedback," Buck said. "Conversations with members will continue throughout the afternoon on the path forward."

• Fiscal cliff deal heads to House after Senate vote
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Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-N.Y., said on her way out of the afternoon meeting, "What we want is to do what's best for the American people. When you talk about balance, you've got to provide responsible spending restraint for the long term. This bill doesn't have that."

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Obama optimistic for "fiscal cliff" deal

Other Republicans today said they would vote for the Senate bill because it represents the best deal possible and takes the president's best leverage -- taxes -- off the table. It locks in the Bush-era tax rates for more than 98 percent of Americans and sets the stage for a major negotiation over spending cuts in the next two months.

Lawmakers had hoped to resolve any uncertainty over the so-called "fiscal cliff" before financial markets reopen Wednesday, but Cantor's opposition puts the fate of the deal in doubt. As of Tuesday afternoon, it was unclear when the House would vote on the Senate bill.

"We're waiting here on the House doing something finally on the cliff, we hope," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a brief appearance on the Senate floor today.

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[magnumdr]

If these people cannot turn this debt around then we might need some new people who can!

[Mortarman29Infantry1SG]

well, off to bed. My servant has sufficiently entertained me for the evening. You are now free to do what you want until your next tasking by me.

LBJ< good talking with you. Look forward to some substantive debates, if you are willing.

To the neoMarxists on here...congrats. Your destruction of this country continues. Carry on!

Good night to everyone else.

Out.

[Tpx15213]

If the FICA tax is allowed to go back to 6.2%, how exactly does this help the middle class, seeing that this is essentially a 2% tax increase? Thanks in advance...

[Mortarman29Infantry1SG]

Taxes going up on anyone does not help the middle class.

[legalbutunjust]

why are people here so hard on mortarman?


Has he been known to make extreme comments of terrible ignorance?

[Mortarman29Infantry1SG]

Only the lefties will say yes, LBJ!

[Mortarman29Infantry1SG]

LBJ, my servant makes my point perfectly!

As I said...if you are interested in discussing topics, I would love it.

My servant is just a pleasant distraction!

[cubscout09]

I think I'm going to have another glass of milk!

[legalbutunjust]

lol!

[bluejacket2-2009]

Now that the House has passed the Fiscal Cliff bill that Obama will sign I want to say farewell to the confederate tea party 112th Congress.... go home and rot in hell..

[Mortarman29Infantry1SG]

Another poster who hates America.

[Type_Z]

He bites the hands that feed him.

[cubscout09]

Yup, we done busted open that tea bag like a pinata and them little flakes is runnin' everywhere!

The Republican vote is split: 78 yea; 144 nay; 19 not voting.

H.R. 8 has passed!

[Mortarman29Infantry1SG]

And so, the American decline continues.

[cubscout09]

Representative Joe Walsh doesn't represent the decline in America?

[realtimecoffee]

And so it's passed, and we'll be right back with a prevue of Cliff Number Two!
---
I've had about all I can take of this for one night, so Goodnight All. Best wishes for the New Year!

[Mortarman29Infantry1SG]

You too Coffee.

I am headed to bed shortly myself.,

[Lindag20]

Good night RTC. I think I'll call it a night myself. See you.

[davidd5063]

The ONLY reason ANYTHING reasonable is happening in the House is because the DEMOCRATS will provide the votes to pass the bill. The OBSTRUCTIONIST GOP HOUSE LEADERSHIP is FINALLY going to allow a VOTE - it's almost like the GOP remembered it's supposed to be a DEMOCRACY rather than a STAGE on which they can throw childish fits.

[ThatPeskyConstitution]

We aren't a democracy! How many times was the divisive term "middle class" used on the floor this evening? I lost count after Levin stated it more than 10x. Your ignorance along with the ignorance of millions of others is why they just celebrated the assurance of a $20.2+ trillion national debt & a $1.2+ trillion deficit this FY. Multi-generational theft in the name of "social justice" is like sugarcoated rat poison.

[RobertVBrand]

Somehow the bill includes authorizing the $900 pay raise for Congressmen, so of course it will pass.

[realtimecoffee]

I thought they killed that earlier today.

[Lindag20]

Killing the pay raise was part of the Senate bill, but who knows what the House will do? Of course allowing Congress to set their salaries and benefits is like letting the fox guard the henhouse.