GOP Moderates Plot Revolt, End to Government Shutdown [View all]

[Tony_FLADEM]

As the shutdown stretches on, a bloc of moderate House Republicans could be the key to reopening government.

On Wednesday, Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, held meetings with groups of “pragmatist” lawmakers — as Michael G. Grimm, R-N.Y., described them — who want to pass a policy-rider-free continuing resolution and end the government shutdown as soon as possible.

Grimm said the group was “spit-balling some ideas” on how to pass a CR that would fund the entire government, but he indicated that any plan would probably require a number of centrists to join Democrats in voting down a routine procedural motion in an attempt to seize control of the debate and the House floor.

Grimm also expressed support for wrapping negotiations over the debt limit, sequester and the CR into one.

“I do feel we’re moving in the right direction, but for me, it can’t be fast enough,” Grimm said.

It isn’t fast enough for Rep. Peter T. King, R-N.Y., who was one of the most vocal House Republicans criticizing the party’s strategy as the government headed to a shutdown.

King wasn’t invited to any of Boehner’s moderate meetings Wednesday, so he held his own.

King said he met in his office with roughly 10 members who support a clean CR, and they discussed “what the strategy would be.”

“Everyone wants a clean CR, some just have different timelines” for action, King said.

But King said ultimately Republicans were going to agree to a clean CR.

“It would probably make it easier if we can show that we defeated Obamacare, even if we didn’t,” King said.

http://blogs.rollcall.com/218/gop-moderates-plot-revolt-end-to-government-shutdown/