NEW YORK CITY -- One of the only new proposals that President Obama introduced in his opening bid to resolve the impasse over the so-called fiscal cliff concerns a political showdown set to take place weeks, if not months, after the fiscal cliff has expired.
The administration is calling on House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to relinquish much of Congress' authority over raising the nation's debt ceiling limit, as members of the Republican caucus signal that they want to use the ceiling as leverage to extract more concessions from the administration. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), an outspoken conservative, outlined the strategy in some blunt terms during an interview Wednesday on Sean Hannity's radio program.
"We do have leverage because early next year the debt ceiling gets reached," he said. "And this president has got to have more ceiling. He's got to have it moved. Sean, we have leverage. And this is a good time to say that we're the ones promoting fairness. We're the ones that want everyone to pay their share. You talk a good game but put it up here where your mouth is."
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