Shutdown: Senate Makes ‘Tremendous Progress,’ House Pouts

Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate came close to a budget deal Monday.

If an agreement is reached and approved, it will need to be taken up by the House, which puts the ball back in Speaker John Boehner’s court.

The Wall Street Journal:

Mr. Boehner could face a rebellion from the House’s most fiscally conservative lawmakers, many of whom were elected with tea-party support. That would force Mr. Boehner to rely on Democrats to pass the Senate measure.

The lack of immediate spending cuts, as well as the absence of major changes to the health law, could prompt conservative opposition.

“I can’t vote for something that doesn’t have substantive spending cuts right now,” said Rep. Joe Barton (R., Texas).

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The government shutdown originated in the House, where Boehner has maintained he doesn’t have the votes to pass a “clean” resolution to fund the government. That was weeks ago, before Republicans took a beating in the polls. While a powerful minority may have leverage over Boehner, he must also contend with GOP donors and thought leaders who are concerned with the 2014 midterm elections and the presidential election two years later. Before the shutdown crisis, President Obama had been slipping in his approval rating and the Democrats were scrambling to offer an affirmative agenda that didn’t involve bombing Syria or spying on Americans. The shutdown, for which most voters blame the Republicans, has made the Democrats look if not good, then less bad.

— Posted by Peter Z. Scheer