Morning Roundup: “GOP Infighting" Edition
A look at today’s headlines shows that Republicans remain deeply divided over how to fund the Department of Homeland Security as we near the February 27 deadline (we know you’re completely shocked). Instead of recognizing the obvious solution to their self-imposed impasse (a clean DHS funding bill), House and Senate Republicans are more focused on passing the buck than taking action.
Talking Points Memo: GOP Infighting Begins As Clock Ticks To Homeland Security Shutdown
“The intra-GOP recriminations have begun over the party's failing strategy to stop President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration as the clock ticks to a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security in 17 days.”
“…Republican hardliners are blaming party leaders for not fighting hard enough, while House and Senate GOP leaders point the finger at one another to find a solution to the impasse. ‘We've had a week on it. We've had three cloture votes, all of which have not succeeded. It's clear we can't get on the bill..’ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told reporters Tuesday. ‘I think it's clear we can't go forward in the Senate. And so the next move, obviously, is up to the House.’”
“Translation: The ball is back in the House's court.”
“That's not sitting well with Speaker John Boehner. The Ohio Republican is standing by the House-passed DHS funding bill and his office responded to McConnell by saying Tuesday there's ‘little point’ in further House action until there's movement in the Senate.”
“Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), whose demands led to the standoff, said it's only failing because GOP leaders aren't fighting hard enough. He said he warned from the start that this particular strategy was ‘designed to lose,’ arguing that they should have withheld funding for the entire government and brought nominations to a halt in order to make Obama back down.”
The Hill: GOP leaders at odds over immigration
“Senate and House Republicans are fighting over who should move first to break the stalemate over funding the Department of Homeland Security.”
“Rank-and-file Republicans echoed the comments from their leaders, suggesting the impasse is likely to extend until after next week’s congressional recess. Congress would then return to Washington the week of Feb. 23 withonly five working days to reach a solution.”
“Senate GOP leaders expressed some frustration with their House brethren.”
“‘They’d like to leave the hot potato with us and I think we’ve made pretty clear that we’ve tried our best and the math doesn’t work,’ said Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (Texas).”
“Republicans have vowed not to allow a partial shutdown, but the chances for one are growing by the day.”
Wall Street Journal: Congressional Republicans at Odds Over Homeland Security Funding Bill
“House and Senate Republicans sought Tuesday to shift responsibility to the other chamber to break an ongoing stalemate with Democrats over immigration policy, displaying intraparty tensions just weeks after assuming full control of Congress.”
“Senate GOP leaders have said they expect to avoid a funding lapse, but other Republicans have said that route might be necessary.”
“‘After we’ve tried three times it looks like we may need a fresh idea from the House,’ Sen. Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.) said.
“But House Republicans said they had done their job and that the Senate has yet to do its. House GOP lawmakers said they feel no responsibility to bring forward another bill until the Senate has passed whatever measure it can approve.”
“In control of Congress for the first time in eight years, Republicans began the year with pledges to boost cooperation between the chambers and work in concert to block the White House where they could. But the struggle to find a way out of the impasse over Homeland Security funding highlighted the pressures each chamber’s leader faces, often eased by redirecting blame to the other side.”
Roll Call: House Says, Senate Says: GOP Split on Next DHS Move
“When it comes to Department of Homeland Security funding, the ball is still in the Senate’s court, according to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.”
“‘We’ve tried three times,’ [Senate Majority Whip] Cornyn said, ‘so I guess we could try it more times in the Senate, but I suspect the outcome would be the same.’”