Videos: Debt-ceiling blame game

Support for House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) debt plan built
Wednesday as GOP leaders urged their members to fall in line ahead of a
Thursday vote on the measure.

{mosads}It remains unclear whether
they have the 217 votes needed for House passage. 

Meanwhile, Senate Democratic leaders called on Boehner to abandon his legislation, saying it would not receive a single vote in the upper
chamber.

With cries of “enough already” and allegations of politicking, Democrats and Republicans have continued to blame each another for failing to reach a compromise on a deal. 

Click through to watch lawmakers from both sides take out their frustrations over the airwaves.

Schumer | Van Hollen | Hoyer

Graves | Schweikert | Bass and Flemming

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) spoke at a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and other senators Wednesday. Schumer declared Boehner’s plan a “non-stater” and said he was wasting time. He added it was time for him to “pull the plug” and move on to more viable options.

Schumer scolded House Republican’s for showing a clip from the movie “The Town” to rally their caucus.

“How many times does he [Boehner] have to throw red meat to the extreme right in his caucus to please them — enough already!”

Schumer | Van Hollen | Hoyer

Graves | Schweikert | Bass and Flemming

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said he is unsure if Boehner’s plan will be able to pass in the House. His biggest problem with the proposal is that it requires another debt-ceiling increase in just six months.

When asked why a compromise can’t be reached, Van Hollen said he believed the debt-ceiling increase should be separate from discussions to reduce the deficit. He blamed his Republican colleagues for refusing to take a balanced approach.

“We have been met with this total brick wall when it comes trying to make sure that that kind of balance could be enforced,” he said.

Schumer | Van Hollen | Hoyer

Graves | Schweikert | Bass and Flemming

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) spoke on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on the deficit and debt-ceiling debates. Hoyer said he would have preferred a “grand bargain.”

He accused Republicans of making a large deal impossible by not accepting any revenue increases, and lamented the lack of support for Reid’s Senate proposal and the difficulties of gaining Republican support Boehner’s plan.

Hoyer said Reid’s plan included “exactly” what Boehner said had he wanted.

He emphasized that no deal will be perfect, but one must be reached to avoid default.

“The House bill, which goes in stages, which continues to roil the financial markets, which continues to create uncertainly in the markets, doesn’t have the support of Republicans and certainly doesn’t have the support of Democrats.”

Schumer | Van Hollen | Hoyer

Graves | Schweikert | Bass and Flemming

Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.) spoke out against Boehner’s current debt-ceiling plan and pushed support of the more conservative “cut, cap and balance.” He said Boehner’s plan does not include enough spending cuts.

When asked where he sees points of compromise, he again touted the benefits of the “cut, cap and balance” plan and stressed that it is the only plan that has passed either house in Congress.

“This is clearly his [President Obama’s] debt crisis, his problem; he is the only member up here who has weighed in on the debate, but has yet to identify how he would solve it.”

Schumer | Van Hollen | Hoyer

Graves | Schweikert | Bass and Flemming

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) said that the House was doing all of the “heavy lifting” to come up with a debt-ceiling solution. He criticized President Obama for not providing a specific plan from the White House.

Schweikert said the real issue is not the debt ceiling, but the scale of the debt. He said he is waiting to see new Congressional Budget Office scoring on Boehner’s proposal to decide if he would support the plan.

“The president still hasn’t put something on paper yet, but they pretend like they’re actually being a genuine partner in this negotiation. … My great frustration from the White House is you’re seeing campaigner in chief.”

Schumer | Van Hollen | Hoyer

Graves | Schweikert | Bass and Flemming

Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Rep. John Flemming (R-La.) spoke to MSNBC about state of the debt debate.

Flemming said he preferred the “cut, cap and balance” bill, but acknowledged it would not pass the Senate. He said he supports Boehner’s plan, calling it an “excellent compromise.”

“We tried to work with the president to have tax-rate reform, which would lower the rates and do away with these deductions, and the president sent Boehner away,” said Flemming.

Bass criticized Boehner’s plan for containing the principals of “cut, cap and balance” within the proposal. She called for a separation of the debt-ceiling-increase vote and the deficit debate.

“I empathize for Speaker Boehner, I really do because I feel like his caucus is not really letting him lead.”

Flemming disagreed, saying as a member of the caucus, they were in support of the Speaker. He deflected the blame, saying it was Obama who ended the “big deal.”

Schumer | Van Hollen | Hoyer

Graves | Schweikert | Bass and Flemming