Congressman: Boehner bill gets support overnight

[July 29, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee says he believes the GOP is "very close" to having enough votes to pass Speaker John Boehner's debt limit bill Friday.

Florida's Vern Buchanan tells MSNBC "there's been some momentum" in the overnight hours. A vote scheduled Thursday night was canceled at the last minute.

Buchanan said he's "confident the speaker will get there today" and send it to the Senate.

He said conservatives have been reluctant to back Boehner's bill because "people don't trust the process." Buchanan also said some lawmakers tell him they believe too much budget gimmickry is involved. He said "the bottom line is, we're willing to raise the debt ceiling, but at the same time we want to make sure the cuts are delivered."

[Associated Press]

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