Heritage, Club for Growth will not oppose new Boehner debt-limit plan

{mosads}The announcement is a significant victory for the Speaker, who hopes to use the plan to entice President Obama into budget negotiations during an afternoon meeting at the White House. So far, Obama had said he would refuse to negotiate on the debt ceiling.

Heritage Action signaled that is was pleased Boehner’s plan would keep the government shut down in order to pressure Democrats to curtail ObamaCare.

“Ten days into their government shutdown, President Obama and [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid [D-Nev.] refuse to acknowledge ObamaCare is already wreaking havoc on hard-working Americans. Heritage Action remains committed to fighting this unworkable, unaffordable and unfair law,’ chief executive Michael Needham said. 

“We do not support clean debt-ceiling increases, but because Heritage Action is committed to giving House leadership the flexibility they need to refocus the debate on ObamaCare we will not key-vote against the reported proposal,” he said.

The statement could tamp down grumbling among House conservatives, who emerged from a Thursday morning meeting less than enthusiastic about the new Boehner plan. It remains unclear whether party leaders have all the votes it needs to pass a six-week extension. A solid number of centrist members say they would like the government reopened quickly. 

The Club for Growth also does not plan to use the vote for its lawmaker ratings, spokesman Barney Keller said.

Both Heritage Action and the Club for Growth have been thorns in the side of Boehner throughout his Speakership.

Updated at 2:40 p.m.