United Liberty

The National Journal reports that Speaker John Boehner says a deal could be made on budget cuts and the debt ceiling in the next 48 hours:

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

That prognosis from Boehner was described by several House Republicans as they left a morning briefing with the speaker — and it was later confirmed by a GOP leadership aide. Boehner and other Republican and Democratic congressional leaders are set to continue negotiations at the White House 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 relayed 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.”

Yeah, there is a possibility, but don’t get your hopes up. Boehner is being more coy about the tax loopholes that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said were on the table.

Stay tuned.