Cantor and Kyl Jump Ship

[Valin]

NRO:

Two Republicans leave Joe Biden’s budget negotiations.
Andrew Stiles
6/23/11

Congress arrived at another fiscal impasse today: Both Republican participants in deficit negotiations led by Vice President Joe Biden chose to drop out of the talks, citing differences on the issue of tax increases.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R., Va.) announcement this morning that he would not be attending the group’s meeting scheduled for that afternoon came as a surprise to many observers, as he had previously said that the talks were yielding “some progress.” Cantor told the Wall Street Journal, however, that Wednesday’s meeting was far more contentious than past sessions, and that talks had repeatedly stalled over the tax issue. “At each meeting, it has become a little more difficult to ignore that divide,’’ he said.

(Snip)

Shortly after Boehner’s press conference, Sen. Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.), who had been representing Senate Republicans in the Biden talks, announced that he would be dropping out as well. Speaking on the Senate floor this morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) reiterated his party’s position that tax hikes are “a poison pill” to any potential deal to reduce the deficit. “We know that a tax hike would never make it through Congress,” he said. “Not because of Republican opposition — but because of Republican and Democratic opposition. We’ve already had the votes to prove it.”

(Snip)

(Note: Walk out starts at 2:30)

[clearvision]

Thanks for the clip.

[righteousmomma]

Good for them!!