Peter King was on his way into the Republican Conference meeting in the Capitol but took time out  at 8:45 this morning in order to announce his support for House Speaker John Boehner’s plan to raise the debt ceiling and cut federal spending.

“I know this is a tough decision for some people but I am voting for the legislation because we cannot allow the government to default,” King said. “And we also have to pay our bills. If not the economic consequences will be catastrophic.”

King is one moderates of the Republican caucus, so it is unclear how much sway he will have over the GOP’s more conservative members, who have so far declined to sign onto the  Boehner plan.  King though tries to school his colleagues on the way of negotiation.

“This is a bill which goes more than any legislation in history to cut spending. It’s not a perfect bill but it’s a good bill. As a practical matter Republicans only control one house. We control the House, Democrats control the Senate, and the president obviously is a Democrat,” he says.  ”Considering the odds against us we have made enormous strides. We can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good so I am going to work as hard as I can to get try to get the votes that John Boehner needs to get this across the finish line.”

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