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 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.
But more subdued rhetoric suggests they have little appetite for a
repeat of what one conservative Republican described as "an epic
battle" that pitted Washington versus America."
"I don't think anybody is thinking about a shutdown," said
Representative Raul Labrador, an influential Tea Party Republican
who voted against the deal to end last year's shutdown.
 Still, Labrador suggested that House Speaker John Boehner tipped his
hand by proposing to secure full-year funding for all agencies, with
the exception of the Department of Homeland Security, which would
only get a short-term extension.
"In negotiations, you never take anything off the table," he said.
Representative Marlin Stutzman, who also advocated a hard line on
Obamacare last year, however, backed Boehner's two-tier approach
that secures most government funding through September 2015, but
gives Republicans some leverage next year.
Boehner's plan appeals to many conservatives because it stresses the
opportunities that will open up with full Republican control of
Congress next year.
Even those who disagree, are still fine with a short term extension
until January, when the Republicans will hold leverage over Obama on
immigration, regulation and healthcare and be able to pass spending
bills that better reflect their priorities.
NO APPETITE
"The cavalry is coming," said Jim Jordan, a prominent conservative
Republican from Ohio. "Let's go for a short period of time and wait
for our friends to get over in the Senate."
Representative Randy Hultgren of Illinois, another conservative who
voted against reopening the government last year, said there was "no
appetite" for a shutdown.
"We’re taking this issue seriously but also realizing that we’ve got
limited options and making sure that we are wise in using those
options," he said.
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Another reason that Tea Party activists are less fired-up for a
budget fight is that the public backlash against the 2013 shutdown
has made the more mainstream Republicans wary of another such
standoff, particularly given the party's ambition to recapture the
White House in 2016.
With a bill to declare Obama's immigration illegal expected to die
in the Senate, Republicans admit that there is little they can do
directly to stop Obama's order besides an explicit denial of
funding.
Yet, in contrast to September 2013, Obama's immigration order lacks
the visceral impact that the impending launch of Obamacare insurance
mandates had at that time. Conservative groups such as the Club for
Growth and the Heritage Foundation waged relentless campaigns urging
lawmakers to stop Obamacare at all costs.
Republicans returned to Washington from a 2013 summer recess full of
town hall meetings at which voters, fearing soaring insurance costs,
implored them to do whatever necessary to stop the launch of
Obamacare exchanges and a requirement that all Americans obtain
health insurance.
This time around, the conservative groups are much less vocal. Club
for Growth, for example, has said that it does not take a position
on immigration issues.
Furthermore, while most Republicans are angry at Obama's unilateral
move to grant what they see as "amnesty" for law breakers and a
violation of the Constitution, immigration is a more complex issue.
Whereas it was politically easier to denounce flaws in Obamacare,
some Republicans have large immigrant constituencies that would
benefit from Obama's order.
Labrador said that while Boehner and other leaders were listening to
conservative critics, he suspected they have already secured enough
votes for the plan.
(Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
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