Rumors on Capitol Hill: Boehner Cut Deal With Pelosi to Avoid Government Shutdown

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Sources tell Breitbart News that several members of the House of Representatives are saying “the rumor is Boehner cut a deal with Pelosi.”

According to those sources, outgoing House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi agreed that her Democratic caucus would join Boehner along with a handful of Boehner loyalists and moderate establishment Republicans to continue Planned Parenthood funding, along with a few other budget items President Obama says were must-haves, in order to avoid a Government shutdown.

Boehner resigned because he knew that after he cut that deal, conservatives in his own party would be so furious with him that it would make challenges to his Speakership a certainty, sources say. Even if he survived those challenges, his remaining year and three months in office would be contentious and personally uncomfortable for him.

One source specifically said that the deal was limited to a continuing resolution that would last only until December 11.

Boehner’s last day as Speaker and member of the House of Representatives is slated for October 30.

Boehner reportedly knew that cutting such a deal to avoid a shutdown would result in a brutal battle with conservatives in  his own party. He felt he could win challenges to his leadership mounted by conservatives in his own party, but thought it might do damage to the House and the Republican Party, sources say.

Sources also tell Breitbart News that Boehner was inspired by the visit of Pope Francis, and decided it was his duty to resign in order to do what was right for the Congress and the country.

The irony in that inspiration, if the rumors are true, is that the Catholic Boehner, inspired by a Catholic pope, both of whom oppose abortion, will be a key player in continuing the public funding of Planned Parenthood, an organization dedicated to performing abortions.

Breitbart News has not confirmed these statements made by sources on Capitol Hill with anyone who is willing to go on-the-record.

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