Morning Consult: Reconciliation Bill Latest Wedge Between Conservatives and Leadership

With a number of looming legislative deadlines quickly approaching – including passing a long-term highway bill before October 29, paying our nation’s bills before November 3, and funding the government past December 11 – Republicans continue to waste time on partisan games. For instance, rather than focus on reaching a bipartisan budget agreement to replace the sequester and avert a shutdown, they’re wasting time on infighting over their reconciliation bill, their most recent attempt to repeal or undermine the ACA, which will never be signed into law:

Morning Consult: Reconciliation Bill Latest Wedge Between Conservatives and Leadership

“After five years of failed attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, House Republicans on Friday will take their best shot yet by utilizing a parliamentary tactic aimed at avoiding a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.”

“But what is supposed to be a moment of legislative triumph for Republicans is swiftly devolving into another round of finger-pointing between House leaders who say they are taking every step possible and conservatives who say the legislative roll-back doesn’t go far enough.”

“The discord comes at a difficult time for House Republicans, who are struggling to identify a unifying leader in the wake of House Speaker John Boehner’s upcoming resignation.”

“House Republican leaders will hold meetings with conservative lawmakers — alternately described as geared toward hearing input from conservatives or educating them on the limitations imposed by parliamentary rules — before Friday’s vote.”

“But some conservative lawmakers on Capitol Hill, emboldened after forcing Boehner into an early retirement, see the reconciliation bill as another broken promise by GOP leaders.”