Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the 176-member Republican Study Committee, said he did not yet know enough about what was being negotiated to determine whether it was something he could support.
“I’ll make a decision when I see the final bill,” the Ohio Republican said.
Asked whether he would put more weight in riders or how the spending issue was resolved, Jordan said, “It’s about all of it.”
With talks continuing, Boehner told his Conference to be ready to huddle anytime during the day or Friday night. “We’re all on standby,” said Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.), one of the leaders of the freshman class. He said he believes Boehner has handled the talks with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) correctly. “I do think he’s done a good job,” Grimm said. “None of us want to shut down the government.”
But with a government shutdown less than 12 hours away, Republican aides were already beginning to plan how they would handle a shutdown over the weekend. According to several aides, Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) will almost certainly keep the House in session until a final deal is cut.
Although details of a shutdown session were being worked out, leaders will likely keep Members on the chamber floor discussing the situation in a public show of lawmakers’ efforts to address the situation.
Kathleen Hunter and Jessica Brady contributed to this report.
Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, arrives for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the investigation of the IRS' targeting of political groups. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify and caused a protest from some committee members when she offered an opening statement and engaged in dialogue with members before invoking the right.
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