FISA Fight: Republicans Losing Steam?

THe Hill is reporting that House Republicans are looking for a new issue to obstruct:

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) is expected to announce Thursday that the House GOP floor emphasis will transition away from passing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and earmark reform to "stop the tax hike."

House Republican leaders will make their case to pass a tax bill introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.). Republicans will use procedural floor tactics to force votes on Walberg’s bill, which would make the 2001 tax cuts permanent.

The measure has 125 co-sponsors, none of whom are Democrats....

Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner, stressed that the pivot away from security and earmarks was not an indicator that the GOP was giving up pushing for passage of FISA or comprehensive earmark reform.

Having seen direct proof that Republicans can no longer scare the public into voting for them by invoking more and more ridiculous and bogus threats (see Rep. Bill Foster, IL-14), the Republicans have to resort to their usual--lying about taxes.

While we can't declare victory on the issue--the Republicans will use any trick in the book, any parliamentary maneuver they can to get their way and bring the Protect AT&T back--Democrats have gained significant ground. That's what happens when they listen more to their constituents than their consultants, and refuse to cave. What a concept, huh?