July 29, 2011 04:41 PM UTC

Cagey Cory Gardner?

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• by: Colorado Pols

After reading yesterday’s brief update in the Fort Collins Coloradoan, you might have thought that freshman Rep. Cory Gardner of Colorado was in the bag as far as Speaker John Boehner’s latest (and so far unsuccessful) debt-ceiling legislation was concerned:

Gardner participated in a press conference [Thursday] morning with other GOP freshmen to express support of the Boehner plan, which cuts more than $900 billion from the deficit over the coming decade while permitting a commensurate increase in the nation’s borrowing to allow the government to pay its bills.

Some conservative Republican House members have said they will oppose the bill because it doesn’t cut deeply enough…

Gardner’s support for Boehner’s legislation was widely reported yesterday by the Denver newspaper and other outlets in addition to the Coloradoan–but despite his support, and that of fellow Colorado Reps. Mike Coffman, Doug Lamborn, and Scott Tipton, Boehner was unable to secure enough Republican votes for passage and the bill remains in jeopardy this morning.

A little strange in the New York Times, though, Gardner is portrayed as much less enthusiastic by the end of the day:

At just after 10 p.m., staff members for the Rules Committee were seen walking into the office of Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority whip, prompting speculation that the panel will try to clear the way for the House to consider changes that might win a few extra votes.

Representatives Tim Scott of South Carolina and Jason Chaffetz of Utah, as well as Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio, John Mica of Florida and Cory Gardner of Colorado, entered Mr. McCarthy’s office. All are Republicans who have expressed doubts about or outright opposition to the bill… [Pols emphasis]

Now maybe it’s possible the New York Times reporter simply wasn’t aware that Gardner had participated in a news conference that morning in which he pledged support for Boehner’s legislation. Or maybe sometime between that morning press conference and yesterday evening, when Boehner’s vote-counting fell apart…Gardner’s firm support got a little flaccid? Don’t get us wrong, it’s possible that Gardner was trying to help shepherd wavering Republicans into support on the Speaker’s behalf–we don’t claim to know for sure.

But we do have two contradictory news reports, only one of which can be correct today.