Even as Senate leaders neared a deal Monday night, the news of a possible agreement on a short term extension of the federal budget and debt limit was not received with open arms by many Republicans in Congress, worried they would see few policy victories in the final document.
"Is there any provision you've seen that you like?" one reporter asked Rep. James Lankford (R-OK).
"Not that I've seen so far, no," Lankford said just off the House floor.
Most lawmakers had only heard reports of what was in the agreement being worked out by Senate leaders of both parties; it reportedly would extend the debt limit into early February, fund the government through mid-January and provide for negotiations over the next two months on ways to pare back the deficit.
"I'm not real big on kicking the can down the road," said Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), who like many others, just wasn't thrilled with the details he was hearing.
But some in the GOP held out hope that negotiations over the budget between the House and Senate might produce some bipartisan agreement on ways to rein in spending.
"Negotiations are important if there is a chance to reduce spending and deficits," said Rep. John Mica (R-FL).
"I think it's time for the President to come to the table in a meaningful way," said Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH).
"There will be many members who will be interested to see what exactly the Senate offers us," said Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL).
"The question for me is, whether folks are trying to kick the can down road or whether folks are trying to open up a window of possibility to come to a solution," said Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA).
That worried others as well - concerned that Congress might just have to repeat this shutdown and debt limit fight.
"We'll be back in the some spot two months from now, or whatever the date is," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA).
As word of the possible deal spread, reporters swarmed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), trying to figure out what the influential Tea Party Republican figure thought.
"Of what you know so far, do you like it or not?" one reporter asked.
"We'll have to wait to see what the details are," Cruz said as he pressed the button for the elevator just off the Senate floor.
"Are you disappointed it does not include defunding of Obamacare, cutting Obamacare, delaying Obamacare?"
"We'll have to wait to see what the details are," Cruz replied.
"Will you object?"
"We'll have to wait to see what the details are," Cruz said a third time.
"Is there a reason you are being so cautious?"
"I want to wait to see what the details are," a smiling Cruz said to loud laughter from reporters.
But it might not be a laughing matter for Speaker John Boehner, who has already had trouble getting a temporary budget and debt limit bill through the House.
"I think John is going to have a difficult time, irrespective of what the measure is," said Chambliss, a longtime friend and confidant of the Speaker.
House Republicans meet on Tuesday morning; Senate Republicans gather a few hours later.
How they react will likely determine whether this latest effort to get the government running and raise the debt limit actually works, or whether gridlock will maintain its hold on the Congress.
