Even when House Republicans agree, they usually flirted with the possibility of having a blowout row before coming together.
But instead of forming a circular firing squad this week, House Republicans agreed a shocking seven weeks ahead of deadline on how to confront President Obama on immigration.
Specifically, they concurred in the best way to beat back the president’s free pass for 4.1 million illegal immigrants. GOP lawmakers have agreed on, and are expected on Wednesday to pass legislation that would reverse the executive action and would be attached to a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. DHS runs out of money Feb. 27.
Republicans don’t have a Plan B to implement if Democrats block the bill via filibuster in the Senate, or if Obama, as expected, vetoes it. Finding a contingency plan will test House Republicans’ ability to agree with each other on the most controversial issues.
But the 114th Congress started with a fight — Rep. John Boehner’s re-election as speaker was marred by two dozen GOP defectors — Republicans lawmakers rallied together on immigration. Hawks and conservative insurgents praised Boehner for moving fast and aggressively, and they lauded the open process that sought input on the bill from dozens of members.
House Republicans finalized their deal at a private meeting Friday in the Capitol basement. Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., was a member of a working group that developed the bill, which was led by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La.
“I’m one of the big critics. In fact, when I got up to speak about this [in the meeting] I said, ‘For you new freshmen, I’m not one of your stereotypical cheerleaders for leadership initiatives,’” Salmon told the Washington Examiner. “But I just said, you’ve got to give credit where credit is due.”
Republican aides say frustration lingered among GOP lawmakers over how the omnibus funding bill was passed in December. It is referred to as the CRomnibus because the government was funded through Sept. 30 but DHS was carved out and financed with a continuing resolution. Many House Republicans felt leadership cut them out of CRomnibus negotiations, even though it included many proposals previously championed by rank and file.
A senior Republican aide said Republican leaders appear to have learned their lesson.
McCarthy’s leadership of the immigration working group was crucial in reaching agreement, according to one House Republican who requested anonymity. McCarthy was the “driving force” behind the latest efforts to include immigration hawks such as Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, and those who want a more liberal approach such as Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif.
Scalise also refined his approach. Instead of relying on only his own efforts and those of Chief Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., as he had on the CRomnibus, the Louisianan called in all his deputy whips to build support for the plan to confront Obama’s executive order.
“Scalise and McHenry tried to do it all themselves on the CRomnibus,” the GOP aide said. “This time, the entire senior whip team has been involved. They held about a dozen meetings this week.” Each meeting consisted of a different group of 20 members who were walked through the legislation and asked for their input.
Tea Party Republicans, many hawks, outside conservative groups and talk radio hosts, also were unhappy with the CRomnibus. They wanted the Republicans to make a stand against “executive amnesty,” even if it meant shutting down the government again. Boehner promised to fight but said Republicans would be stronger if they avoided a shutdown and waited for backing from the new Senate under GOP control.
Republicans took that control this week, which might have helped Republicans reach agreement on immigration. They know Senate Republicans will give their proposal a hearing rather than burying it, as Democrats did when they were in charge. Some House Republicans had thought Boehner was stalling in December and had not really intended to fight Obama when in the new year.
Even Republicans who trusted him nevertheless called on him publicly to follow through. This week, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., a Boehner ally, circulated a letter addressed to the speaker asking him to remember his promise and keep it.
“We were guaranteed by leadership that the House would stand its ground against the president’s unconstitutional actions in January. Now we ask that leadership honor their commitment,” the letter read.
