The behind-the-scenes debate boils down to whether it’s better to make concessions now to pick up a larger group of Senate Republicans, or to keep the Senate legislation as pristine as possible so it emerges from negotiations with the House still palatable to the vast majority of Democrats.

“Some members of the Gang of 8 seem willing to trade a bit too much in order to ratchet up a high vote count,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, in a statement. “We would remind them that it’s far better to pass a good bill with 60-70 votes than a hopelessly compromised bill with 70-80 votes. The Senate bill is already a carefully balanced compromise between the right and the left.”