Republicans in the House are hoping they can put the onus for any government shutdown directly on Democrats today, by approving a one-week stop gap budget to fund federal operations while budget negotiations continue.
Initially, many Republicans said they would not vote for another budget extension, but with full year funding of the military in this measure - what Speaker John Boehner called a "troop funding bill" - many GOP'ers fell in line behind the one week plan.
"The troops come first," declared Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who had made no bones about how he was going to vote against any further stop gap budget.
But that changed when GOP leaders decided to add in funding through the end of the fiscal year for the Pentagon.
"I am willing to keep fighting for one more week to ensure our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to get the job done and come home safe," said Pence.
To ensure the one week plan would pass, Republicans twisted arms Wednesday afternoon during a series of votes on the House floor and then in a closed door meeting of GOP lawmakers.
"I don't need one Democrat," said House GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy who had his Whip Team working hard on the floor.
"We're serious about funding the government and paying our troops," said Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH).
One member I talked to said he had four Republicans to check on - all of whom were going to vote against another short term budget - and all four of them said they would vote for this one week plan, which also includes the military money and $12 billion in budget cuts.
If it gets through the House on Thursday, then the GOP could stand back and make the argument that the government will only shutdown Friday night if the Senate - controlled by Democrats - refuses to pass the budget extension.
And for now, that seems like a possibility, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid labeled the effort "bad policy" and a "fantasy."
“The Republican Leadership has the Tea Party screaming so loudly in its right ear that it can’t hear what the vast majority of the country demands," Reid said on the Senate floor.
"The country demands we get this done."
Boehner and Reid were both at the White House late on Wednesday night for more negotiating, as the clock ticks slowly towards midnight on Friday night.
"Democrats have got to make a decision and I don't see how they can help but to fund those troops and let things go another week," said Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA).
This is what we call Legislative Chicken.
