Tax Cut Deal May Hinge on House Democrats

As President Obama and GOP senators iron out a deal on extending the Bush tax cuts, the real fight will be in the House, writes Howard Fineman at the Huffington Post. The Senate's version will have to circle back to the House for approval, and even if all House Republicans back the plan, still-Speaker Nancy Pelosi will need to get 39 Democrats to support it, which won't be easy. Some seem ready to fight the deal. “I don't see why we don't try it, what the heck?” said one Democrat.

Vice President Biden met with House Democratic leaders this weekend to discuss pushing House Dems to accept the deal, an insider tells Fineman. Now, the question is what they’ll want in exchange for their support. While many observers seem to assume “that Democrats would not want to risk blowing up the deal”—which would likely extend the cuts for two years while restoring jobless benefits—that may not be the case. "Ironically," notes Fineman, "it may be up to Pelosi to sell tax cuts for the rich to her fellow liberals in the House. They may not like her as much after that." (More House Democrats stories.)