debt spending and many come into the room there's nothing you can do to change my mind or get my vote. i don't care if i lose the next election so john boehner has a fascinating walking on eggshells job every single day and especially on this big issue, spending, deficits and debt. >> he was impressive i thought today how the leadership, the republican leadership in the house, they all stood next to him, behind him, eric cantor, canadian mccarthy, jeb hensarli hensarling, all of them there, including the chairman of the budget committee endorsing what he was saying so at least the new breed leadership they were all with them but potentially some of them could have split with them. >> they could we will have, wolf, but they won the last election. the last election in which the american people spoke is 2010. that's why the republicans think they are right on these issues. they won it big in 2010. and that's why they think they are right in this debate. they now have a responsibility. they are part of the governing of the country.

in divided government you have a democratic president and senate and the voters in 2012 will decide whether they like a republican house and in the middle of america they wanted to see a deal, even most republicans wanted to see a compromise, and so you have the governing pressures on that leadership team and that is why they cut this deal. you also have a lot of political pressure on that leadership which makes developing the dealing so hard. that's why i'm so fascinated to watch this roll call play out. mr. boehner will get most of his republicans. will he get a big majority or overwhelming? lost nine on cut, cap and balance and 22 on the deal on friday? will he lose more than 22 republicans on this vote? that's probable and one of the reasons we're watching this play out. a huge policy debate for the country and international economy and also a fascinating political story. >> john will be all over this story reporting live from capitol hill on "john king usa" which comes up at the top of the hour for the north american viewers. john, thanks so much. we're standing by and getting ready to hear from john boehner,

the speaker of the house of representatives. still doing a quorum call in the house. the vote getting ready to start momently. our live breaking news coverage continues right here in "the situation room." labored breathing ] [ coughing continues ] [ gasping ] [ elevator bell dings, coughing continues ] [ female announcer ] congress can't ignore the facts: more air pollution means more childhood asthma attacks.

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you're looking at live pictures from capitol hill right now. the quorum call. it's over, but the real vote, the vote on raising the nation's debt ceiling momentarily expected to begin. we'll, of course, have live coverage here in "the situation room." they need 216 votes. once the votes start, we will watch to see if they get it. in the meantime, let's bring back gloria borger, our chief political analyst and richard quest is joining from us london. he's been in washington all day. before i get to you, richard, gloria, this vote, we assume -- we assume that it will pass 216 votes, but you know what? assumptions in this day and age not necessarily always good to have. >> right. you have to believe that they wouldn't call the vote, wolf, unless the speaker thought that he actually had the vote, and what i've been told in my reporting today is that the minority leader nancy pelosi has enough votes that if it were really a problem i think the

democrats would push it over the line, but, you know, some -- a senior administration official said to me it would be an embarrassment for john boehner to get less than 160 votes which would be sort of two-thirds. >> 160 republican votes. >> out 2of the 240 republicans n the house. it's interesting to see what perrage of his own caucus he gets. >> did you see what vladamir putin, the prime minister of russia said today? he said supposedly the united states, he said, is a parasite. >> parasite. >> on the global economy right now. what is he talking about? >> not only a parasite on the global economy, but the mastery of the dollar. he really laid into it. he was at a youth real and he thanked the fact that it looked as if common sense was going to prevail. what he talked about and what he meant is the enormous. a resources, capital, that the u.s. does suck in to keep paying down the budget deficit, but don't forget.

russia is also a huge owner of u.s. treasury bonds, along with china, japan and other trading partners. >> saudi arabia, united arab emirates, some of those countries. it's hard to believe in this day and age, russia, which used to be a pretty poor country, owns a lot of u.s. treasuries. >> sounds like he's going to join the tea party. >> yeah. amazing what facile fuels underneath will do. >> especially with the price of a barrel of oil is going up. >> but you can have a debate with putin about the messiness of democracy and when a good idea it is actually, but i don't think he wants to go there. >> one thing on your numbers, by the way, of what we get tonight, if it passes, the markets don't really mind too much. the global markets today just want a deal. we saw the fragility, wolf, of just how bad things are out there. >> the asian markets moved up immediately once the president announced an agreement last night. the european markets did relatively well. the u.s. markets, you know,

manufacturing number. >> it showed how weak the economy is. >> here's john boehner, the speaker of the house, walking over to the floor of the house of representatives. he's going to be walking by some microphones. i just want to listen in and see if he says anything. let's pause and listen as john boehner walks by. >> speaker boehner, are you confident you have the votes tonight? >> all right. you saw kate balduan, our congressional correspondent, asking the question, gave a little smile, gave a little nod. he seemed confident that he has the votes, even though he didn't really say anything, gloria, you could see the body language. >> he's got at walking by the cameras and kind of nodding. he's been around the block a while. >> he knows what he's doing on this one. you know who is one of the -- if this passes the house tonight,

the senate tomorrow, mitch mcconnell, the republican leader in the senate, sort of an unsung hero in the united states avoiding going into default potentially. >> to some a hero to. some not so much. >> those who didn't want the united states to go into default, those who wanted the debt ceiling raises. >> but also conservatives got very angry at senator mcconnell because his original plan came up with kind of a gimmick to get around voting on the debt ceiling the second time. >> the final plan has a little gimmick, too. >> a vote of disapproval, but it didn't contain deficit reduction in it, and so conservatives were calling him a traitor saying what this is all about is deficit reduction and where is it? so he kind of had to back off of that, but in the back rooms he's been the person talking to joe biden three or four times yesterday, talking to the president of the united states, trying to get this done, dealing with his senate and dealing with john boehner. >> it's interesting, you've been watching this whole thing unfold

from europe, from london, and now you're here in washington and been here for a day or two. >> absolutely. >> does it look differently from washington that it does london? >> breathtakingly so. >> because here in the hot house of the arguments, when you're looking from the outside looking in, you're thinking these people are a bunch of lunatics who are playing with fire with dynamite and you get here and start to hear the arguments and realize what both sides believe they are doing is fighting for the heart and soul of the american economy and the american future as they see it. it's only when you get here, when i was talking to people on the mall, americans who are flabbergasted, i've been speaking to people from the east coast, midwest, horrified by what's happening. >> as are a lot of people. >> and i think in the end in 2012 voters will have to decide. >> no question. >> voters will have to decide who behaved well, but would i argue right now fur step back and took a look at this, when

barack obama started this, he said i want a clean debt ceiling, i don't want any deficit reduction on it, so just on that point, would you have to say that the tea party, for better or worse, actually pushed the republican establishment to fight for deficit reduction. >> you know what? i saw a replay john boehner, speaker of the house walking past our microphones, our cameras, when kate baldwin shot him that question. >> speaker boehner are you confident you have the votes tonight? >> adorable little -- he spiled, he was -- he said yes. >> i saw a nod. >> i saw a little -- we'll find out soon enough. >> it was adorable. >> the aye's have it. >> they have the kwoer um

called. they're going to get the start of this vote right now. >> recorded vote -- sufficient number having arisen a recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device, this will be a 15 minute vote. it's official now, 435 members of the house of representatives. there are two or three vacancies for illness, and a couple members are not there right now. they have 216 votes. the voting has started, you have 54 yays and 16 nays. we're going to watch this very, very closely as we see what's going on. just keep it on the screen, i think our viewers are going to want to see. the magic number right now is 216. once they get to 216 it could pass.

if there's time remaining, and you see at the bottom of the screen the time remaining, members can still change their votes. it's not official until there's a zero as far as time remaining is concerned. they're moving right now, 97 republicans have already voted in favor. 6 democrats, democrats are being a little slow. there's still 266, the numbers are changing dramatically. as we look at this, what are you going to be looking for the closest? >> you lock at the nay votes in the republican party, it's interesting. there are probably some people who would like to vote nay because they took that -- they think there aren't enough cuts in this, if the speaker says he needs them, they're probably saying, okay, we'll give you our vote absolutely. it's interesting, you're going to want to see how many democrats, nancy pelosi can get for this.

right now. >> 37 republicans have already voted against it. democrats are waiting to see what happens before they vote. very few of them have voted so far. i want to keep this up on the screen. i want our viewers to watch the tally, we're not going to leave this picture. i want to bring jack cafferty in. you asked our viewers a provocative question, and have you a ton of e-mail response. >> the question is, do you buy the government's so-called solution to the debt ceiling something i got many responses, it's not a solution to anything. chris in new jersey, no. it was the easy way out, that didn't reform much of anything. the republicans should have offered up tax reform by way of a fair tax. and democrats should have allowed entitlement reform. these guys are such phonies, i darn near bar of every time they try to convince us they fixed

the problem. how stupid do they think we are. our elected leaders don't care about the long term fiscal insolvency of this country, they care about november 2012 and keeping our heads above water for a few minutes longer. the rich need to pay their fair share. the problem of too much borrowing, too much spending and too much printing of money cannot be solved with more borrowing, more spending and more printing of money. i think we should borrow money from china to fund a nationwide party, celebrating the resolution of our debt crisis. why isn't your segment longer, jack, thank you. i'll buy that, can i put it on my credit card. thousands of e-mails and most of you recognize this exactly for what it is. it's a three-card money game, one of many they play on us. you go to my blog

cnn.com/caffertyfile. >> the roll call is happening on the floor of the house of representatives right now. 148 yeas so far. 4 opposed, still 11 minutes or so to go before time runs out, a lot of members still have not voted. john king is up on capitol hill getting ready for "john king u.s.a." it looks like it's moving very quickly in favor, but democrats are sort of waiting and waiting before they actually push that button? >> that's a planned strategy. the democrats have decided if we have to eat our peas and vote for something we don't like, we'll be there in the end because they have a democratic president. they realize many of them are going to have to vote for this, they want the republicans to carry the water, to kaert ball, and get this compromise at least close to this finish line before a number of democrats are willing to push it over. 44 republicans have voted no already, you mentioned they can change their vote.

john boehner lost 22 on friday night with his compromise plan. only nine republicans voted no on the original cut cap and balance plan. what you see here are obvious growing republican dissatisfaction with this compromise. some conservative groups said it could open the door to tax increases when you have that super committee. some of them don't like this deal, because it does possibly has a trigger that would call for even more defense cuts. some conservatives don't like it, you see that in here. the way this is playing out, there's every reason to believe there will be enough votes. the drama especially of the democrats holding back and watching, that's part of the great political theater. many people at home may say, i don't need all the theater. this is an important policy question for the country. it could mean interest on my credit card, but that's the way washington works. this is a big drama in a new washington where the tea party is having a dramatic influence. this is one of those votes that will be remembered. elections have consequences, and

in 2010 the american people sent a republican house. they are getting a piece of that over the next 24 hours as this is debated in the house and senate. it's a very different washington. >> there's no doubt on some of those republicans voting in favor are very concerned right now that they could face a primary challenge from tea party activists in the republican party and others because of their vote. richard quest, as we watch this unfold, right now 156 in favor. the magic number is 219. 48 democrats opposed compare what's happening here in the house of representatives to what the house of commons in a critical vote would be like? >> first of all, you would not have anything like that telemetry of the vote. you don't know as they're going through the lobby, making their votes. you have no idea how the vote is going to go until the speaker announces the results. you may have a feeling, but you

certainly don't have anything like this level of detail. >> interesting. gloria, it's fascinating, the chairman of the congressional black caucus was here just a little while ago. he said he hates this. he hates this legislation. but he wasn't really 100% convinced he would vote against it. he said if this vote is needed to protect the president, he would vote in favor of it, but he's waiting and waiting like so many other democrats. >> look at all the democrats holding back, you have 126 democrats holding back, and you see the speaker now has more than half of his caucus there. i think about 120, 121 is half his caucus. 50 nays. and i think right now those nonvoters are split. and it will be interesting to see if he gets up to 160. but democrats, they're hanging balk. >> 45 republicans haven't voted yet. 126 democrats haven't voted yet, so they're waiting. they want the republicans, i

guess -- john king's up on the hill. i guess some of those democrats want the republicans to sweat a little bit, it's hot enough in washington right now, but they want them to sweat inside the capital? >> they do, wolf. and some of this is just the politics of the moment, and some of this is look, it's been months since nancy pelosi had to hand off the gavel to john boehner, many democrats have sour grapes about not being in charge of the house. many democrats have a large memory. i don't have the vote count in front of me. when george w. bush was president, when the economy was on the verge of collapse and they came up with the big tarp plan that many americans don't like, that many think contributed to 2010 and the democratic devise. many remember republicans bolting from their own president. the democrats say we had to help president bush, we had to be the responsible party to get that over the line. maybe if you're watching at home, you view that debate

differently. on this big question, they're going to let republicans get three quarters of the way up the hill before they deliver the final votes. >> john king will continue our coverage on "john king u.s.a." don't leave, this vote is continuing. john? a dramatic night on capitol hill, you're watching play out on the floor of the house of representatives. the government about to get approval from the house if this vote continues the way it's going to increase its lending limit. coming with that, $917 billion in spending cuts in the short term, then a new super committee to come up with more deficit reduction, this has been a weeks' long drama in washington as this all plays out. speaker john boehner's credibility on the line as this compromise plan gets voted on in the house. the senate is expected to take up this plan tomorrow, tomorrow being d-day. the government runs out of the authority to borrow money at

midnight tomorrow night. the president waiting for this legislation to reach his desk. the vote as it plays out, a few minutes remaining in the vote. you need 216 to get to final passage. as you can see right there, a bit of politics going on. 149 republicans have voted yea. only 19 democrats. this is the house floor, we're moments away from the conclusion of this vote, the democratic controlled senate will take this up next. as we watch this vote, dramatic breaking news. more details in a minute, but let's bring into the conversation kate baldwin. when the speaker walked by you moments ago you asked the right question, you didn't get a verbal answer, but he gave you a bit of a nod. he seems to think finally he's going to get a plan out of the

house and senate? >> he's smiling more today than he was earlier -- they were getting votes for his original bill. i think there's more a more optimistic mood. >> you have the votes tonight? >> john, while we -- speaker binner has not answered my question. paul ryan is the chair of the house budget committee. he seemed pretty confident today at a news conference with speaker boehner saying he thinks this bill will prevail, going to prevail with a majority of republicans. one thing we've been tracking throughout the day is where do house democratic leaders stand? because they have refuse to take a position throughout the day. just a couple hours ago, we finally heard from a top aide that the democratic leader nancy pelosi, she was a yes vote, she was going to support and shortly right after that we saw steny hoyer, the number two democrat in the house take the house floor and throw his full support

behind it. it's not perfect, but this is what we have. there seems to be a bit in 24 deal for everyone to dislike, and that seems to be part of the sales job we've been hearing from democratic and republican leaders saying this is not perfect, it's what compromise is. it's more important that we pass this rather than threaten default. >> kate baldwin will stay with us throughout this hour. david ger again is also with us. the case in point, people on the far left say this opens the door to social security and medicare cuts. people on the far right saying this new super committee opens the door to possible tax increases. does the fact that nobody likes this make it just right or make it just awful? >> i don't think it makes it just right, john. the country not only is frustrated with the process, to the point of disgust, but there's a lot of unhappiness about the content. it will save us from default, it

will extend the debt ceiling for a considerable period of time, probably through the 2012 elections, it does not do it with the tax increases the president promised that he really wanted. it does not do it with entitlement reform. it really let's help for the jobless expire. and then finally, you know, it proposes savage cuts in defense. when you add that all up, there's only one hand clapping tonight, not two. you can't find two hands clapping almost anywhere. >> excellent way to put it, david gergen. passing this deal, if it passes, given the events of the couple weeks here in washington. if it passes, we move on to the senate. if this passes, yes, the government will avoid default. yes, the government will get a bigger credit line. one of the other big questions that is much more relevant to people sitting at home in their kitchen tonight is what about a downgrade. will this be enough to satisfy

the ratings agencies so the united states' credit doesn't go down? >> they've put themselves in a difficult spot. i'm referring to the credit agencies themselves. a few months ago they put the u.s. on watch for a downgrade. nothing has really changed. when you look at the numbers it's amazing. if we do nothing the debt goes up $13 trillion. if we do this bill, it goes up $12 trillion. it's not as if we're making a dent in the problem. the credit agencies would have to go ahead and follow through with the downgrade fp they've really put themselves in that situation. it's unclear if they will do it, if they do, it could mean interest rates over the longer term would go up, maybe a quarter percent, maybe more, it really depends, the u.s. still remains the safest place to put money. that will minimize the chance of

a decrease. >> i want to show the vote, 224. it's enough to pass the bill. 27 seconds left. there's time to change your vote. it looks like this vote will pass tonight. the 27 seconds that are remaining in this vote. i want to remind you if you're unfamiliar with what is in this, we're watching some applause on the floor tonight. there are unconfirmed reports of something, and i'm not going to say it on television until i see it with my own two eyes. you see debbie wasserman-schultz there, gabrielle giffords, the arizona congresswoman who was shot in january has returned for this vote. you see jan jakowski. for this dramatic vote tonight an additional piece of breaking news, the return of the democratic congresswoman from the tucson area to the floor of the house of representatives.

let's just listen for a minute. you can see the man with the short hair and glasses. this is a remarkably important vote for the country. it's also a remarkably emotional moment for this democratic congresswoman to return to the house floor for the first time as the house of representatives now has well in excess of the votes needed to pass this plan and send it on to the senate. there's the best shot you've seen right there of gabrielle giffords. she looks very different than when she served with the long flowing blonde hair. on a very important policy question, we'll get back to it, this is a remarkable human drama. shot in january, bullet passing through her head, so many months of recovery. first in arizona, then at a houston rehab center.

gabby giffords making an emotional appearance on the floor of the house of representatives tonight. let's listen in, the vote has concluded. 267 to 161 the tally not voting 5, we have to wait for the official clerk of the house. and the speaker of the house and the chair. the democratic vote on this is split. the democratic vote stood on this 94 yeas and 95 nays. some don't like the defense