Morning Roundup: McConnell Tries and Fails to Get House Conservatives to Listen to Him
Speaker Ryan can’t unify House Republicans around a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2017, so yesterday he called in Senator McConnell to try to talk some sense into the extreme Members of his party. A look at today’s headlines shows that it didn’t go well for him either:
The Hill: McConnell tries to sway House conservatives on budget deal
“In a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, [Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell [R-KY] told House Republicans to stand by last fall’s accord with President Obama…”
“McConnell’s argument didn’t appear to sway the party’s fiscal hawks, who have opposed those spending levels unless GOP leaders have a firm commitment to cut $30 billion in spending elsewhere.”
“Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, told reporters Tuesday he hasn’t changed his tune on seeking a lower spending cap. ‘It doesn’t change the overall facts of where we’re at,’ Jordan said… ‘We’ve been very clear.’”
National Journal: McConnell Pushes House GOP on Budget
“… [A] visit by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell [R-KY] on Tuesday did little to change the minds of House Republicans who want to turn course on the October budget deal in favor of a lower spending blueprint…”
“He and House GOP leaders have been pushing for the lower chamber to pass a budget at $1.07 trillion, like the October agreement, so the two chambers would be working from the same numbers…”
“‘Senator McConnell was spot on…’ Rep. Frank Lucas [R-OK] said. ‘That said, clearly there’s no consensus about how to address the budget resolution in the House or to begin the appropriations process.’”
Washington Post: McConnell to House GOP: You need to take the lead on spending bills
“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday tried to assuage House Republicans’ concerns about the upcoming budget season… But he also had another more subtle message for his colleagues across the Capitol: You need to get your house in order first.”
“House Republicans are locked in an increasingly intractable standoff over whether this year’s spending bills should include the additional $30 billion in funding that Republicans and Democratic leaders agree[d] to last year.”
“McConnell’s remarks to House Republicans were intended to assure them that the upper chamber would not become a graveyard for spending bills as it has been in recent years. But McConnell was also making clear that what the Senate will do is moot if House Republicans can’t resolve their own internal differences in the coming weeks.”
Roll Call: McConnell Meets With House GOP on Funding, Supreme Court
“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., crossed the Rotunda Tuesday morning to assure House Republicans that the Senate plans to engage in a vigorous budget process…”
“McConnell’s assurances, however, seemed to do little to quell conservative opposition to operating under the budget deal crafted last year.”
“’We’ve been through this before. And it sounds like we’re going to have the same problems we’ve had in the past,’ said Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich.”