The Failure of "Plan B"

In a showdown with President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner staked all of his political capital on his "Plan B" proposal. This proposal would have raised taxes on households with incomes of $1 million or more, while also providing lots of goodies on the Teabilly wish list. But a funny thing happened on the House floor: Boehner couldn't get the votes! Not even from his own party, who, at last count, holds a majority in the House of Representatives. The biggest problem appeared to be the name: Plan B is also a "morning after" contraceptive that the Religious Right (now, there's an oxymoron for ya) simply loves to hate. It's not inconceivable that many of them thought their Speaker had gone around the bend to support a woman's issue. Congress adjourned without even a vote on Boehner's proposal, leaving him not only with egg on his face, but the blame of a nation for failing to avoid what many call the "fiscal cliff." Today was a big day in D.C., but I suspect that January 3rd will be even bigger.