Many Republicans want to postpone any immigration battle until next year when a new Congress convenes with Republicans controlling both chambers. Mr. Cruz doesn’t buy that argument and told reporters after a rally last week that he expects to find many in his party still reluctant to take on Mr. Obama next year.
“Even with a Republican House and Senate, the same folks who are saying ‘Gosh, we can’t do anything now,’ in January are going to say, ‘Gosh, we don’t have 60 votes in the Senate,’ ” he said. “It’s like Charlie Brown and Lucy where constantly the same voices pull the football aside.”
This week presents a test of how hard Mr. Cruz is willing to push. If the House passes a funding bill that doesn’t seek to block the immigration initiative, which protects millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation, he could try to force a vote on the issue.
He can’t block the bill with a filibuster without at least the support of 40 colleagues. Time will be tight: Government funding expires Thursday; the House isn’t expected to approve it until Wednesday.
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