Last night, twelve Republican senators dined with the president at the White House. The dinner was organized by Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, who the White House thanked after the dinner was over. The attendees, in addition to Isakson, were Marco Rubio (Fla.), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), John Boozman (Ark.), Susan Collins (Maine), Mike Enzi (Wyo.), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Pat Roberts (Kan.), John Thune (S.D.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.).
The senators discussed the budget, immigration, and gun control.
“Productive discussion tonight at dinner with the President and GOP colleagues,” Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) tweeted Wednesday night.
Karen Tumulty and Paul Kane, wonder if there has been a thaw in relations between the two parties in Washington.
We shouldn’t exaggerate signs of progress, but it’s clear that the president is making some progress with the Senate. It looks increasingly likely that the Senate will have votes and pass legislation on guns and immigration, and the path is now clear for some kind of Grand Bargain on the budget.
Cynics are insisting that none of this will matter because the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will still block any progress, but I am not sure that is true. They are still behaving as if they intend to take some action on guns and immigration. And if there is movement in the Senate on a budget agreement, I think the House will react to that as well.
Rhetoric aside, the past may not be the best prelude for predicting what will happen in this Congress.