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Durbin: Republicans afraid of primary challenges over debt vote
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07/26/11 08:05 AM ET
House Republicans are refusing to agree to a debt-ceiling increase deal with Democrats because they're afraid of facing a primary fight, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Tuesday.
"They're afraid of a primary fight," Durbin said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "They're afraid because they signed some tax pledge to some fellow here in Washington and if they somehow even talk about revenue, they'll end up with a primary fight they will lose. They don't want to face that."
In his address, Obama charged House Republicans with refusing to agree to a deficit-reduction and debt-ceiling deal that is "a balanced approach" to solving the crisis. Democrats have voiced frustration with Republicans for refusing to agree to a deal regardless of what Democrats are offering.
On Monday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) unveiled an alternative debt-ceiling increase proposal that was quickly rejected by Democrats and drew skepticism from some Republicans. Boehner's plan proposes a two-step approach, first raising the debt ceiling by $900 billion then establishing a commission to find $3 trillion more in deficit reduction. The plan would likely involve a second vote to raise the debt ceiling near the 2012 presidential elections.
Also on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) unveiled a rival plan with $2.7 trillion in budget savings that lifts the debt ceiling through 2012, a condition Obama and many Democrats have been advocating.
Republicans have charged that Obama's preference for a larger deficit-reduction and debt-ceiling increase deal is motivated by his desire to avoid a vote to raise the limit that occurs during his reelection campaign. Democrats argue that a smaller deal like Boehner's would not sufficiently fix the economy.
The new House and Senate plans are the latest in ongoing negotiations between Republicans and Democrats over raising the debt ceiling where both sides have voiced frustration that their counterparts are stubbornly refusing to agree to reasonable proposals on reducing the deficit and raising the debt limit.
Watch Durbin below.
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