“Right now, Jesus himself couldn’t be the speaker and get 218 Republicans behind something, so I think Speaker Boehner is trying his best to come up with a plan that can get close to that,” said Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi (R-Ohio), a longtime Boehner ally. “Whatever we move, there will be critics everywhere, but at the end of the day we still have to govern.”…

Outside the House chamber Wednesday night, the plan was gaining momentum, with dozens of GOP members saying they could back it. The benefits for retired military personnel were reduced in last year’s bipartisan budget agreement, which cut $6 billion in payments to veterans over the next 10 years.

“I’d support it in a heartbeat,” said Rep. Doug Lamborn ­(R-Colo.). “We need to figure this thing out, and that’s a way to do it.”

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said, “A lot of people are supportive right now, and this idea could be a vehicle that wins backing from a lot of Republicans.”