Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has started a fast-track process to bring up the anti-refugee legislation passed by the House on Thursday. The action bypasses the legislative process through committees and brings the bill directly to the floor, though a vote has not been scheduled yet.
Republicans have rallied around pausing the acceptance of refugees in the wake of the Paris attacks, voicing concerns that a member of a terrorist organization could sneak into the United States disguised as a refugee. Senate Republicans, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), have introduced separate proposals.
McConnell doubled down on the push to hit the "pause" button, suggesting it's the "most reasonable and balanced" course of action at the moment.
In response, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid promises a filibuster, and his conference will focus their attention on the proposals they've come up with to address the visa waiver program and a loophole in gun laws that doesn't prevent people on the FBI terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms. Democratic aides say that they expect no more than a few defections, so Reid should be able to make good on his filibuster promise.
For some perspective on what the actual concern for Republicans is in all this, let's go to a senior Republican aide:
Republicans say they'll use the vote on the House bill in political ads during next year's presidential election.
"We'll crucify them," said a senior House GOP aide.
The next logical step for them is a government shutdown, and it's already gleaming in House Republicans' eyes. That might just backfire on them, something that McConnell probably has in mind. That's just one more headache for McConnell, who's already struggling to figure out how to deal with Planned Parenthood defunding and Obamacare repeal, the two other promises he's made but can't keep.
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