Ignoring a veto threat and declarations that their bill was "dead on arrival" in the U.S. Senate, Republicans in the House on Friday approved a temporary budget plan to keep the government open while also moving to block funding for the Obama health reform law.
"We had a victory today for the American people," Speaker John Boehner told an excited group of Republicans gathered just off the House floor.
"And frankly, we also had a victory for common sense," said Boehner.
It was a much different scene for Boehner than a week earlier, when his original plan to move a stop gap budget through the House was derailed by more conservative lawmakers, who wanted language in the bill to stop money for the health law.
The final vote was not close, 230-189, as only a handful of members broke ranks.
Two Democrats voted for the GOP funding bill: Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC) and Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), both considered Blue Dogs.
One Republican, Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA) voted against the bill.
In debate, Democrats slammed the GOP effort to gut the Obama health law, accusing Republicans of pursuing Tea Party political goals.
"Wake up from this radical, ideological wet dream, and come back to reality," said Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) on the House floor.
(One note: it may not be the first time that the phrase "wet dream" was used on the House floor, but it certainly is not a typical phrase for Congressional debate.)
Democratic leaders piled on as well, accusing Speaker Boehner and his lieutenants of giving the wheel to Tea Party lawmakers, whom Democrats say want nothing more than a government shutdown over Obamacare.
"This place is a mess," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). "Let's get our House in order."
Next stop for this funding measure is the Senate, where Democrats have already made clear that the provisions to "defund Obamacare" are going nowhere.
That debate will begin as early as Monday, when the Senate returns to session.
By that time, lawmakers will have one week to reach a deal on a stop gap budget, or we will face the first big government shutdown since 1995-96.
