Tea Party More Subdued, Pragmatic as Budget Deadline Looms

Washington Informer December 3, 2014

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The Capitol is seen in Washington, Thursday morning, July 31, 2014, as lawmakers prepare to begin a five-week summer recess. Republicans pushed a divided House yesterday toward a campaign-season lawsuit against President Barack Obama, accusing him of deliberately exceeding the bounds of his constitutional authority. Obama and other Democrats derided the effort as a stunt aimed at tossing political red meat to conservative voters. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(Reuters) – Tea Party Republicans who led the charge into a 16-day government shutdown last year are now taking a more pragmatic approach as they weigh options on how to fight President Barack Obama’s immigration order.

Pushed by their dissident wing, Republicans blocked government funding in September 2013 in a bid to stop Obama’s healthcare reform law, but now numerous Tea Party members appear reluctant to take the battle over immigration that far.

Instead, even the most strident conservative Republicans are talking about a short-term funding fix that would keep the government running into early next year, when the party takes control of the Senate.

The government’s funding authority expires on Dec. 11, providing possible leverage to opponents of Obama’s plan to allow millions of undocumented immigrants to stay and work in the United States.