The House Republican leadership has apparently asked House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, who has announced he will be voting for the budget deal, to bring along 40 to 80 Democrats with him. Politico reports:

Fearing failure of a landmark budget deal that averted a government shutdown, House GOP leaders have sought help from Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and top Democrats on the Appropriations Committee to pass the measure.

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) contacted Hoyer on Wednesday and asked for his help, said GOP and Democratic sources.

McCarthy’s outreach to Hoyer shows how much opposition Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has run into convincing his own GOP Conference to support the deal with President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

This means conservative opposition could be significant. The deal is currently moving toward a vote, so we’ll find out this afternoon.

UPDATE: With time expiring, over 190 members still haven’t voted. Democrats look to be sitting back to force as many Republicans to walk the plank as possible. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who complained about not being involved in the negotations, voted no.

UPDATE II: The continuing resolution, aka budget deal, passed 260 to 167. Not as close as some expected,  but there were 59 Republicans who voted no. Hoyer may well have helped, because there were 81 Democratic votes in favor.