Effort to Defund Obamacare Fizzles

First Read notes the GOP effort to defund President Obama’s health care law “has gone … nowhere. GOP leaders (like Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and Eric Cantor) aren’t on board. Neither are some stalwart conservative senators (like Rand Paul and Ron Johnson).”

“There are two reasons for this. One, the votes simply aren’t there, especially with Democrats in control of the Senate and White House. Two, Republicans see a government shutdown over Obamacare as Democrats’ best opportunity to upend the 2014 apple cart that currently favors the GOP. Consequently, GOP leaders have turned to another idea — using the sequester and debt limit to delay the health-care law’s individual mandate (though it’s doubtful that the votes are there, too). Still, this “defund Obamacare” movement could have some political repercussions. Does McConnell get penalized in his primary race over this? And is it something that Cruz can campaign on if he prepares for a White House run?”