And if only 62 Republicans are willing to oppose Ryan and Boehner on this raw deal, how many will oppose them when they push through amnesty?RedState: We’ve noted many times that the GOP Senate Conference is rotten to the core, as Harry Reid can count on a supermajority at any given time to pass liberal legislation. Many of us thought that the House was significantly better, although far from perfect. Sadly, the GOP-controlled House adjourned the 2013 session with a bust.
Ever since the details of the budget detail were released, I thought that the House would surely pass the bill only over the objection of a majority of the GOP Conference, thereby violating the Hastert Rule once again. Astoundingly, only 62 members voted against it, just 26% of membership.
This bill was such a no-brainer for Republicans to oppose. Unlike the shutdown bill, which passed with majority Democrat support, Republicans weren’t called upon to ask for something tough, such as defunding Obamacare. All they had to do was pass a clean CR and let the status quo stand, something they have already done earlier this year. Instead they agreed to raise taxes and repeal part of the sequester for two years with promises of a hodgepodge of notional and intangible spending offsets over 10 years. Remember, they will continue to repeal the sequester on an annual basis, yet continue to use offsets spread out over 10 years.
Additionally, this bill takes away a procedural block to passing tax increases in the Senate with a simple majority. It obviates our leverage to fight Obamacare for another two years. And it clears the agenda to focus on other important issues, such as passing Obama’s immigration bill.
Furthermore, this feckless GOP leadership is supposed to retain the House and win back the Senate next year? Yeah, not only is this House busted, but the same can be said of the party leaders running Washington's Fantasy Land.
Related links: House passes bipartisan budget deal
Up In Smoke
