Rump Speaker Ted Cruz's desire is the House Republicans' command. Last week, Cruz
advised the House Republicans to stick by his shutdown or defund Obamacare crusade by passing small, individual spending bills, department by department. Last week, when House Republicans were pissed at him, they scoffed.
But that, too, is a nonstarter for House Republicans, one House GOP aide tells me. “There is no scenario where Congress is going to decide that this part of the government is open and that part of the government is closed,” the aide says.
Non-starter? Fast forward a week.
Hse to do 3 special funding bills today. VA, Nat'l Parks & DC gov't so it can open. Parks is 1 of worst optics during shutdown. #fnpolitics
— @ChadPergram
These
"small, noncontroversial bills" are meant to do what Cruz told them they would do, pressure the Senate to negotiate. Because the House needs to try to figure out some way to save itself from the Republican shutdown. Hard to imagine they're going to do that by following Ted Cruz, again.
Tell Senate Democrats to stand strong against Republican hostage-taking.