from the Speaker's Office:
Speaker Boehner Statement on Tax Vote
Posted by Speaker Boehner Press Office
December 20, 2012
Press Release
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) this evening issued the following statement:
"The House did not take up the tax measure today because it did not have sufficient support from our members to pass. Now it is up to the president to work with Senator Reid on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff. The House has already passed legislation to stop all of the January 1 tax rate increases and replace the sequester with responsible spending cuts that will begin to address our nation's crippling debt. The Senate must now act."
Apparently "our members" is short for "Republicans": The GOP House members were called to a 7:45 PM Caucus meeting for some serious arm-twisting, at which, according to Right Wing radio host Mark Levin:
I am told the GOP leadership in the House is now threatening members with losing their committee posts if they do not vote for the Boehner tax increase
.
...which apparently didn't work.
Can't imagine why Boehner didn't call for a vote on the President's proposal....unless he thought it might pass.
UPDATE: CNN reporting that the Republican's were NOT happy...
Dana BashVerified @DanaBashCNN
Hearing booing inside this emergency house gop meeting re scramble for votes on plan b.