Boehner Challenges Cruz

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) joined other Republican lawmakers in calling for Senate conservatives to put up a strong fight against President Obama’s health-care law, the Washington Post reports.

When asked about comments made by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), he said, “It’s time for them to pick up the mantle and get the job done.”

“Cruz has spent two months agitating Republicans in the House and Senate to risk shutting down the federal government in the effort to strip funding for implementing Obamacare. After Boehner announced Wednesday his intention to take that risky strategy, Cruz issued a statement that Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-NV) likely had the votes to strip that language in the Senate and said it was up to House Republicans to “stand firm” when the legislation bounces back across the Capitol to them.”