http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/329451-cruz-senate-gop-actively-aggressively-opposed-effort-to-defund-obamacare-Cruz: Blame Senate GOP for ACA defeat
By Julian Hattem - 10/19/13 02:37 PM ET
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is blaming his fellow Senate Republicans for opposing a movement in the House to defund ObamaCare, which ultimately caused Republicans to win few concessions in the deal to reopen the government and raise the nation’s debt ceiling.
In an interview with the National Review posted on Saturday afternoon, the senator said that there would be “consequences” for supporting the funding bill.
“Unfortunately, rather than supporting House Republicans, a significant number of Senate Republicans actively, aggressively, and vocally led the effort to defeat House Republicans, to defeat the effort to defund Obamacare,” he told the conservative magazine. “Once Senate Republicans did that, it crippled the chances of this effort, and it caused the lousy deal.”
Late on Wednesday, the Senate voted 81-18 to restore government funding until Jan. 15 and raise the debt limit through Feb. 7.
All 18 votes against the legislation came from Republicans, while 27 members of the party voted to send the bill to the House. Among those backing the legislation was Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who is facing a primary challenge from a Tea Party-backed candidate, Matt Bevin.
“From day one in office,” Cruz said, “I’ve urged the American people to hold every elected official accountable, and far too many elected officials are not listening to the American people.”
Cruz, who is the vice chairman for grassroots outreach with the National Republican Senatorial Committee, added that “it is likely that I will stay out of all incumbent primaries.”
“But every elected official has to make the case to the grassroots in his or her state on why he or she is effectively fighting for them,” he said.
In a follow-up question, he refused to rule out the possibility of interfering in Republican primary contests.
