John Boehner Says Still No 'Deal' With The White House - Some Senate Republicans Forging Ahead With Another Plan

REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstThe cars of members of Congress, including one (L) belonging to a member of the Maryland delegation, fill the parking lot outside the House of Representatives during a Saturday session at the U.S. Capitol in Washington October 5, 2013.

House Republicans just wrapped up a meeting where their leader John Boehner informed the caucus that there is still no "deal" with The White House to reopen the government or lift the debt ceiling.

Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan at POLITICO have a writeup of the state of play, but the gist is this: John Boehner says there's no agreement yet between him and President Obama and that the plan is to hold firm.

Meanwhile, some Senate Republicans, lead by moderate Maine Senator Susan Collins are pushing forth a plan to both reopen the government and lift the debt ceiling.

The agreement would be mostly "clean" although it would stipulate a 2-year delay in Obamacare's medical device tax, which is probably something Obama could live with.

If that plan could pass the Senate, then House leadership would be "jammed" meaning that it would have in its court the only legislation that was viable to get through both houses. Boehner would then have the decision of whether he's really willing to let a bipartisan deal to end the crisis die in the House, so that the right-flank of his party can hold out for a more aggressive position.