House Republicans may appear to observers to be pushing the government toward a shutdown, but that's not even remotely how they see it.
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"We just need to stand firm. I think we may get Democrats on this," said Rep. Tom Massie (R-Ky.).
A reporter asked why the president would sign a bill undermining his signature health care law. "He had 22 Democrats vote for a delay of the individual mandate back in July. I think you will get Democrats. I will predict that," Massie said Saturday afternoon. Republicans did get Democrats to support them in the vote that happened later on Saturday -- two of them, the same number of Republicans who switched sides.
Much of the GOP thinking seems to be rooted in the fact that Obama has already delayed some provisions. So why not delay the whole law?
"The president is setting a precedent of delays," said Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) "So based on that precedent I think we have a strong argument."
"I don't think he would sign a repeal. I don't think he would sign a defund, and that's where I disagree with my colleagues in the Senate," he added. "They've set expectations for the American people unrealistically. I don't see this president signing a repeal. But a delay, he's been delaying it more than anyone."
One optimistic Republican, echoing many others, said that a delay ought to be agreeable since the GOP had started out with a much more extreme position. "You're going from saying, 'Do away with Obamacare for good, total, ever, ever and ever,' to saying, 'Just delay it, suspend it, just for 12 months.' That's a big concession," said Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.).
~snip~
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