Democratic Controlled Senate Tells Conservatives To Go To Hell, Sets Up Hot GOP On GOP Action Vs. House Over Highway Spending

When last we visited GOP Failure Theater: Highway Spending Edition, Ted Cruz was calling Mitch McConnell a liar on the floor of the Senate and McConnell was busy ensuring the Ex-Im Bank rose from the dead while preventing any conservatives amendments from being offered.

All of this came to a head in a rare Sunday Senate session where the GOP delivered the votes to add the Ex-Im to the bill but prevented Ted Cruz from offering an amendment that would have forced the Iranians to recognize Israel and free four Americans before any deal with Obama could go into effect.

Cruz's amendment was ruled out of order and he appealed the ruling of the chair. GOP leadership is angry at Cruz so they denied him "a sufficient second" (11 Senators) to get a role call vote on his appeal.

Mike Lee also offered an amendment to pass a repeal of ObamaCare which would have also required 51 votes on an appeal of the chair. For some reason the GOP denied him a roll call vote on his appeal. Thus preventing the GOP from passing an ObamaCare repeal with only 51 votes. Attempts to bring up an amendment to defund the body parts traffickers at Planned Parenthood.

Of course had those amendments passed the Democrats would have filibustered the bill thus killing the highway bill and the Ex-Im re-authorization.

At least we know the GOP's priorities.

In fairness, McConnell did allow a pretend ObamaCare repeal vote which needed 60 votes. It got 49. So yeah, the GOP couldn't even muster a majority to pretend to repeal ObamaCare.

Lee was not amused.

"That Senate leaders blocked votes on amendments to defund Planned Parenthood and require Iran to recognize Israel's right to exist is a disappointment," Lee said. "But the way they did it — by disenfranchising the people of Utah on the Senate floor — is absolutely unacceptable. Utahns and all Americans deserve to have their voices heard on these questions."

"Tomorrow," Lee added, "begins the work of doing better."

Yes, always tomorrow. Why if you just give the GOP 745 House seats, 342 Senate seats, the presidency and 63 SCOTUS seats, then they might be able to do something you like (but probably not). Until then, keep those checks, volunteer hours and votes coming!

Next year gang! Next year.

Reminder: Lee had a better highway plan that never even got a sniff from the GOP leadership. It involved less federal control and that means less ROI to the party's investors/owners at the Chamber of Commerce. Can't have that kind of crazy talk.

So now that Senate has passed a multi year highway bill that is partially funded (and that part is full of gimmicks that will never produce the money it promises) and the House has passed a five month short term extension that is funded by changes to international tax laws that McConnell says won't pass this year. The House bill doesn't include an Ex-Im save either.

The Senate is set to pass the highway bill today and with funding for the Highway Trust fund set to hit its statutory floor on Friday, we should see who blinks in the next day or two.

In the matter of McConnell vs. Boehner I shall be rooting for injuries.

posted by DrewM. at 10:18 AM

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