John Boehner Averts Government Shutdown Questions After House Vote

Shortly after the House voted in favor of requesting conference with the Senate, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) left much to be desired in a brief press conference early Tuesday morning.

Boehner explained that, after the Senate's continued rejection of House proposals, a conference between the House and the Senate would serve as "a way to resolve this process."

"I would hope that the Senate would accept our offer to go to conference and discuss this so we can resolve this for the American people," he said.

Boehner would not say whether he'd permit a vote on a continuing resolution free of Obamacare provisions. He then brushed off a reporter's question regarding the 800,000 government employees that will be told they're "no longer needed on the job."

"What's your message to them and do you have a plan to restore back pay to them?" the reporter asked.

"The House has voted to keep the government open," Boehner responded. "But we also want basic fairness for all Americans under Obamacare."

As the reporter attempted to ask the speaker what he had to say to the furloughed workers a second time, Boehner retreated from the podium.