Illinois U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh said Thursday that he does not think House Speaker John Boehner has the necessary votes to pass his proposed plan to increase the nation’s debt ceiling.
Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois tells CBS’s “The Early Show” he does not think House Speaker John Boehner’s proposal or a plan offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are sufficient.
Asked if he could vote later Thursday in the House for the Boehner program, Mr. Walsh replied, “Right now, I can’t.”
The Illinois lawmakers comment echoes sentiment amongst a number of Republican lawmakers who have expressed doubts that Mr. Boehner has the necessary votes to pass his plan. Mr. Boehner said late Tuesday he would delay a vote on raising the debt ceiling, citing a Congressional Budget Office estimate that noted his plan would cut less than $1 trillion.
Sources close to the talks noted Mr. Boehner lacked the necessary support, prompting a series of meetings Wednesday in which Mr. Boehner urged Republican lawmakers to “get their ass in line” and vote for the measure.
