Letter of 42 Republicans Good or Not?

LETTER OF 42

Three weeks ago the entire Republican Senate caucus signed a letter launched at Majority Leader Harry Reid.  The "Letter of 42" informed him that they will filibuster any legislative measure that comes before the Senate prior to the body considering a budget or tax cut legislation.  The Associated Press first reported the story, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's office passed a copy on to reporters, showing that he had secured signatures from every Senate Republican, all 42 of them.

GOOD OR NOT?

Today, President Obama signed the $858 billion tax cut bill into law.  With that task complete, half of the Republican concerns in the "Letter of 42" have been satisfied.  Hours ago, the House just passed a temporary three-day federal spending bill that now awaits action in the Senate to fund the government through next Tuesday, December 21, 2010.  Given that it passes through the Senate, it will (1) give Congress more time to compromise on a longer and more permanent continuing appropriations resolution (CR) budget and (2) could satisfy the second half of the "Letter of 42" for the weekend in some opinions.

FOCUS

All eyes will be on the Republican leadership of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his ability to hold the line on the "Letter of 42" and keep the GOP solidarity to vote NO on cloture (start/stop debate) against the DREAM Act and DADT repeal.  

On the DREAM Act, will Senator McConnell hold the votes of Sen. Snowe, Sen. Collins, Sen. Murkowski, Sen, LeMieux and Sen. Voinovich?  Or will one or more of these Republican Senators cross their leadership and stab the American people in the back?  The DREAM Act will grant amnesty to an estimated 2.1 million young adults and contains multiple loopholes, allows too many illegal immigrants to qualify, and doesn't hold illegal immigrants to the educational and military standards that its supports say it does.  Watch C-SPAN2 on Saturday morning for the vote!

McConnell Letter of 42 Signed