Senate Hard-Liners Insist They’re Not Headed Toward House-Level Chaos

The latest bipartisan spending bill is getting pushback from Senate Republican conservatives. It’s the new business as usual.

Ted Cruz
The idea of Senate Republican division is a “cute narrative,” said Sen. Ted Cruz. Al Drago/AP

The Republican leader is soon to be out. A bipartisan border deal is dead. A rogue lawmaker is threatening to hold up the must-pass budget deal. But still, Republican senators insist they are nothing like the House.

Even Sen. Ted Cruz, who has been a leading critic of departing Republican leader Mitch McConnell, waved off accusations that the Senate mirrors House dysfunction. He called the idea of Senate Republican division a “cute” narrative pushed by reporters.

Despite an open rebellion from the party’s right flank in recent years, even the more moderate Republican senators say they aren’t concerned about party cohesion once McConnell’s gone.