Conservatives Force Boehner to Abandon His 'Plan B' Tax Hike--House Goes Home

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CNS News:

(CNSNews.com) - Conservative members of the House of Representatives dealt a stunning defeat to the House Republican leadership on Thursday night, forcing Speaker John Boehner (R.-Ohio) to cancel a vote on his "Plan B" tax-increase proposal.

 

Earlier in the evening, the Republican House leadership had been confident they could make the members of their caucus vote for the tax increase. But they miscalculated.

"Plan B" would have violated the pledge almost all House Republicans have made to the America people to oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates. It would have done so by increasing the tax rate on income over $1 million after Jan. 1.

"The House did not take up the tax measure today because it did not have sufficient support from our members to pass," Boehner said in a statement released late Thursday.

"Now it is up to the president to work with Senator Reid on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff," Boehner said.