The Hill News

There is a reflex in Washington to suspect congressional leaders have a fragile hold on power, and that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) could lose his Speakership because he has been unable to lead a restive caucus where Tea Party-backed Republicans refuse to compromise, vote with leadership or help unite the team. These conservatives voted against him in April when Boehner negotiated a deal with President Obama on the remaining budget for fiscal 2011 and averted a government shutdown. They hooted and howled these last weeks because the deals on the table didn't go far enough. Boehner's political fortunes have become a focal point in the chatter about the final outcome â€" can he hold on if he loses too many votes on the final deal?

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