On to the Senate.
Neither the process nor the result was pretty. In the end, John Boehner was John Boehner insofar as he wanted more than anything to avoid a government shutdown, which meant he would sacrifice amnesty de-funding to get a spending bill passed if that's what it took. And it did, because 57 Democrats came to his rescue by supporting CRomnibus - even though they were furious about the rollback of some of Dodd-Frank - after 67 Republicans bailed because the bill let Obama's executive amnesty off the hook.
So the bill is a moderate's dream and is hated by both the left and the right, which sets up some interesting dynamics when the Senate takes its turn. But in a way, amnesty doesn't get off the hook entirely...
If Republicans play this right - I know, I know - this could prove to be more of a victory on the amnesty question than it seems today. By passing a bill that funds the entire government except Homeland Security through September, they've removed the Republicans-want-to-shut-down-the-government nonsense from the equation and now set up a situation where Obama pretty much has to negotiate with them come January to get funding restored for DHS.
I think that was always the idea - that you wait until you've really got control of both houses after the first of the year and then you put the squeeze to him. Passing CRomnibus under the current Congress puts you in a stronger position to do that because you take away the shutdown as Obama's opportunity to change the media narrative and make Republicans the bad guys.
◼ Warren, Vitter team up against Dodd-Frank change in spending bill - JOSEPH LAWLER/Washington Examiner
◼ Hannity Unloads on ‘Cowardly’ John Boehner After House Passes $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill: ‘We’ve Got Our Own Gruber’ - The Blaze
◼ BOEHNER HAILS 'BIPARTISAN' CROMNIBUS VOTE; VOWS IMMIGRATION FIGHT IN 2015 - Charlie Spiering/Breitbart
In a nod to conservative opposition, Boehner vowed an immigration fight in 2015, when Congress returns with a majority in both houses of Congress.
“[B]y the House’s action, we are setting up a direct challenge to the president’s unilateral actions on immigration next month, when there will be new Republican majorities in both chambers," he announced. "The Senate should act on this bipartisan legislation in short order.”
Mark Levin calls it embarrassing.◼ Conservatives Blast Boehner for Funding ‘Obama’s Amnesty’ - Daily Signal
