Boehner Unsure If Plan Can Prevent Credit Downgrade

By Philip Bunnell

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) told reporters Thursday that he was unsure if his debt plan, set to be voted on later in the day, could prevent a credit downgrade.

“That is beyond my control,” Boehner said. “All I know is this bipartisan bill is as large a step as we’re able to take at this time that is doable and signable.”

 The credit rating agency Moody’s said Wednesday that it could still downgrade the United States’ credit if the Boehner plan passed.  

Boehner acknowledged that the bill is not exactly what some of the more conservative Republicans had in mind saying, “the bill’s not perfect, I never said it was perfect, no one in my caucus thinks it is perfect.”

The Speaker did not seem to believe that the bill would have trouble passing the House, and added that once it does, “the Senate will have no excuses.”