Budget Reform Vote in Doubt

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/49_143/news/6028-1.html (subscription required)

Fearful of losing on both the symbolic level and the actual vote, House GOP leaders are mulling whether to pull the budget process reform bill before it is scheduled to hit the floor Thursday.

The situation could still be resolved in time to hold a vote, but with no agreement in place between several competing factions — including Budget Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa), Appropriations Chairman Bill Young (R-Fla.) and shifting coalitions of moderates and conservatives — Republican vote-counters are worried that the final product will not have enough votes to pass and would send the party into next week’s recess on a sour note.

Currently, there is a split both on the leadership level and among reform advocates between those who believe a floor debate would be useful regardless of the final outcome and those who think the party would look bad if the bill goes down in flames.

“Sometimes you win by losing, and sometimes you just lose by losing,” said a senior GOP leadership aide. “The problem is we don’t have the votes.”

[Old and In the Way]

1. What, Republicans don't want to pass the stinker they created?

I'm shocked.