I have to admit to loving watch Boehner make an ass out of himself and Republicans in the House. This Plan B is turning into a fiasco and it will not give cover to the Republicans even if it does pass.
First, the Senate likely will not even vote on it, so President Obama will not have to veto it.
The Senate Democratic leadership has tentatively decided not to hold any vote at all on John Boehner’s “plan B” fiscal alternative if it passes the House today, a senior Senate Democratic aide confirms to me, underscoring the futility for Republicans of holding the vote on Boehner’s plan in the first place.
“We’re in a strong position,” the aide told me, referencing the fact that the Senate has already passed, and sent to the House, a bill that would extend the tax cuts on income up to $250,000. “We’re going to simply say, `They are sitting on our fallback plan.’ We have the strongest possible hand, because we have a Senate-passed bill at $250,000.”
Greg Sargent, The Plum Line, WaPo.
Second, the knowledge that the Senate won't even give it a vote may influence more tea party Republicans to vote no on Plan B. (and some may think it's a birth control device and vote no anyway. Yes, they are that dumb.)
This could have the effect of undermining support for Boehner’s bill among House conservatives. Groups like the Heritage Foundation and the Club for Growth are whipping hard against the bill, and many conservatives are leaning against voting for it or are undecided, because they oppose raising tax rates under any circumstances. They may ask themselves why they should bother voting for a bill they consider a tax-hiking sell-out when it likely won’t even get a vote in the Senate.
Greg Sargent, The Plum Line, WaPo.
And even if he passes it, so what. Polls are showing that people blame the Republicans already.
Over the cliff is the best of several poor options.