Budget vote: Has John Boehner lost control of his caucus?
In a "stunning blow to his leadership," the House speaker watches 59 Republicans defect in Thursday's big budget vote

With a 260-167 vote on Thursday afternoon, the House approved the shutdown-averting budget compromise negotiated last week by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the White House, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). But 59 House Republicans voted no, meaning Boehner needed dozens of Democrats to vote yes — "a stunning blow to his leadership," considering his earlier pledge to pass the deal without needing any Democrats, says Brian Beutler at Talking Points Memo. Did Boehner win the vote, but lose his caucus?
Yes, Boehner has a real leadership problem: This budget deal is going to "really hurt Boehner's credibility and his relationship to the Tea Party," says David Dayen at Firedoglake. House Republicans were going to reluctantly swallow the package when it was $38.5 billion in cuts. But thanks to the Congressional Budget Office's latest tally, we now know the real savings are a fraction of that. "Given this feeling of betrayal" among his caucus, I don't see how he'll lead them to accept other deals.
"House passes 2011 funding bill, needs Dem votes to do it"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
No, Boehner is even stronger now: "The easy Washington spin on this is something like 'Boehner can't even control his caucus!'" says David Weigel at Slate. But that's a "pretty uninteresting" take, since he was always going to lose some number of hardcore Tea Party "rebels." In fact, if you "think about the bigger picture," roping in 81 Democrats lets Boehner crow about "bipartisan buy-in." And that's "why he's winning" in Washington.
"Boehner predicts 'bipartisan support" for CR, which is why he's winning"
The Tea Party is the big loser: Next time Boehner says "he can't do a deal without the support of 218 Republicans," we now know he's "bluffing," says Jed Lewison at Daily Kos. But the most puzzling thing is that Tea Party Republicans so gleefully "sidelined themselves into irrelevancy." After all, now that Boehner has shown he can push through bills without them, "what possible relevance do they have" to the next round of negotiations?
"Boehner turns to Democrats to pass funding bill to avert shutdown"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK