What others say: Boehner’s deal might save party

  • Wednesday, October 28, 2015 4:14pm
  • Opinion

Outgoing U.S. House Speaker John Boehner may save his party — in spite of itself. And for that — once the dust settles — he will be viewed by history as a hero.

Boehner struck a deal with his Democratic counterparts and with the White House that will not only head off a possible government shutdown in December but will prevent similar budgetary showdowns for two years — and that means after the 2016 presidential election.

The $80 billion spending plan (over two years), which would also increase the federal borrowing limit through March 15, 2017, could come up for a vote as early as today.

“The agreement isn’t perfect by any means, but the alternative was a clean debt limit increase” without entitlement reform or money for troops, Boehner said yesterday. “So this is a good deal.”

And he was perfectly candid in acknowledging that part of his intention was to “clean out the barn” for the next speaker. .

“I’ve done my best to clean it up,” he said. …

The genuinely disgruntled in the House GOP — such as some members of the Freedom Caucus — no longer have any weapon to use against the departing Boehner, and they know it.

“We can’t stop it. He’s in league with the Democrats,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and, yes, he was likely thinking “devil” even as he said “Democrats.”

But thanks to John Boehner, Massie and his kindred spirits will likely survive to fight another day — even if they’ll never admit it.

— Boston Herald,

Oct. 28

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