Some House GOP conservatives are threatening to vote with Democrats on procedural votes if they are not satisfied with deals their leaders cut on the contentious national testing and family planning issues, a key Republican said today.
"If we, in effect, can hold no conservative positions, there is a strong possibility of procedural problems," Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., told CongressDaily today, adding conservatives might vote with Democrats on motions to adjourn the House. Souder said conservatives realize they may have to compromise a bit on family planning funds for international organizations because some Republicans favor the funding, but said they want to ensure whatever is developed is subject to authorization.
On national tests, Souder said conservatives are willing to accept a plan by House Education and the Workforce Chairman Goodling to allow state legislatures, governors and the National Academy of Sciences to study the tests. However, Souder said that was the ultimate compromise his group was willing to accept, adding he would rather wait until President Clinton vetoed the Labor-HHS bill before accepting that plan.
Souder said that while some procedural protests are possible, some conservatives want to simply give up, go home and demonstrate to constituents that GOP leaders are not doing an effective job. Citing the 295 votes a prohibition on national testing received in the House, Souder said, "If we can't win something like that, is there any point to fighting?"
House Appropriations ranking member David Obey, D-Wis., said appropriators are discussing another testing option: to allow the Clinton administration to develop a national test, subject to all safeguards specified by the House and the Senate, but prohibit the administering of that test without the authorizing committee giving its approval. Obey said the plan would respect Goodling's turf by requiring his committee to approve any plan. Obey added, however, "I don't know if that will be accepted by anybody."
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