Unsurprisingly, the House passed John Boehner’s Plan B-2 continuing resolution that included a one-year delay in the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate plus the Vitter Amendment killing employer subsidies for health care coverage of Members and staff of Congress and executive branch political appointees.
Rep. Peter King thrilled some bored observers earlier tonight by talking of a “moderate” Republican vote against B-2 that might lead to a clean CR. But in the end, only 12 Republicans (including hard-core wingers Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey, Louis Gohmert, Steve King and Michele Bachmann) voted against B-2; nine Democrats voted for it; and it passed easily. So the closest thing to a “Republican revolt” was among people who refused to back down on a full Obamacare implementation delay or defunding.
“They have lost their minds,” quoth Harry Reid, whose Senate is about to slam-dunk-reject B-2. So barring something very strange, the government will shut down at midnight.
