In a brief press conference just now, Harry Reid made it absolutely clear that John Boehner's debt ceiling plan will be dead on arrival if it ever makes its way to the Senate from the House. Standing alongside Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray, Reid said not a single Democratic senator would support Boehner's plan, which may be getting new life now that he's revising his plan to include deeper cuts.
Each senator made the case that the only way to avoid default and emerge unscathed from the debt ceiling mess would be for House leadership to allow the Senate debt ceiling plan to move forward. While tea party Republicans would clearly oppose that plan, enough House Democrats would support it to give Boehner a majority for raising the debt limit.
Meanwhile, on Wall Street, stock market indices are ticking down, possibly fueled by concerns over the debt debate. However, it also appears that there may be a bit more breathing room than previously anticipated, potentially pushing the threat of default back to August 10.
9:33 AM PT: Greg Sargent reports every single House Democrat will also oppose the Boehner plan.
9:34 AM PT: This is crazy: House Republicans chanted 'fire him' at a top staffer who was urging conservative organizations to whip House memberships. Sounds like Boehner's plan isn't getting new life (among House GOPers) after all.
9:56 AM PT: Ooops, I got that backwards: the aide was whipping up opposition to the Boehner bill. Sorry for the mistake, but I'll respectfully request a mulligan on account of the sheer chaos going on within GOP ranks.
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