Commentators are reading a lot into the failure last night of Speaker Boehner to convince the Republican Conference in the House - the group he is alleged to lead - to vote for an alternate tax plan that would avoid the fiscal cliff. The bill contained an allowance for taxes to rise for incomes past $1 million. The conservative and Tea Party wing of the party refuses to let that happen, so no deal.
Congress will adjourn for Christmas and presumably return prior to the New Year to try again.
This is seen as a test of Boehner's speakership.
Some related items:
- The Plum Line.
- Washington Post.
- Summary of reactions from The Dish
