Boehner: 'Maybe 50-50' Chance of a Debt Deal Reached Within 48 Hours

[flpoljunkie]

Boehner: 'Maybe 50-50' Chance of a Debt Deal Reached Within 48 Hours
By Billy House

Updated: July 7, 2011 | 11:27 a.m.
July 7, 2011 | 11:11 a.m.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, informed fellow House Republicans on Thursday that the chances of congressional leaders and President Obama reaching a tentative debt-ceiling deal within 48 hours are “maybe 50-50.”

That prognosis from Boehner was relayed by several House Republicans as they left a morning briefing with the speaker -- and later confirmed by a GOP leadership aide. Boehner and other Republican and Democratic congressional leaders are set to continue negotiations at the White House on Thursday on a deal to raise the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.

“I get the impression that it’s better than 50-50,” said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. “It will be agreed upon in the next 48 hours; if not, it won’t be for a long time.”

In a separate interview, freshman Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo., also said that he came away from the meeting believing a deal in the next 48 hours is “50-50.”

But if not, he said, there was a sense that negotiations could come unglued. “It will get done quickly, or not for a long time,” said Long.

They and other Republicans, such as Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said few specifics were unveiled to them during the conference meeting, although they said Boehner did reiterate that Republicans “aren’t interested in raising taxes.”

http://www.nationaljournal.com/economy/boehner-maybe-50-50-chance-of-a-debt-deal-reached-within-48-hours-20110707

[OHdem10]

1. For Boehner to say 50/50 dchance, Obama must have offered

one "sweet deal".