Frustration at the GOP Senate conference is seething among conservatives over the way Senator John Cornin (R-Texas) is handling bipartisan arms reform talks – putting the man who seeks to succeed Mitch McConnell as Republican leader in political congestion .
Why it matters: Some senators see these talks as a test of how Cornin will fare as the party’s lead negotiator if he replaces McConnell one day.
Driving the News: Numerous sources with direct knowledge say Republican senators worried about the talks include Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Min.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.) And Mike Krapo (R-Idaho), among others.
- McConnell has so far supported Cornin’s efforts, saying he feels “comfortable” with the bipartisan arms deal and will support the bill if it “ultimately reflects what the framework shows.”
Behind the scenes: At a private GOP luncheon in the Senate on Tuesday, several senators asked Cornin about the proposal and asked for specific details on what the legislation would include.
- Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) “very loudly” asked Cornin for more information on the content of the framework. These requests were rejected, three sources familiar with the lunch told Axios.
- The proposal to stimulate state red flag laws is particularly unpopular with conservatives. Sensors Krapo, Cruz and others have expressed concern to the leadership that it would potentially become too easy to deprive Americans of their right to bear arms.
- And Scott, the chairman of the Republican campaign in the Senate, feels neglected by the bipartisan group after early talks with Cornin and Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
- “No one is telling me anything. I just asked for the text and got nothing, “Scott told Axios. “My whole goal is not to rush into something like this; we have to take our time. “
Hawley told Axios that he is not a big fan of the frame, as it was announced … I follow what is reported in the press. I understand that the framework is changing. But you know, I’m not a big fan of her. “
- “I am at a disadvantage because I am not part of the negotiations,” Hawley added. “I do not know where they are. All I know is what I read second hand from all of you.
Between the lines: Several senators believe they have been excluded from the negotiation process and are ignorant of important details and will be asked to vote politically without enough time to pass the bill.
- A Republican senator, speaking to Axios on condition of anonymity to be honest about his concerns, called Cornin’s approach “Shut up and vote.”
- “There is great dissatisfaction in the conference that we seem to be approaching a bill that will unite all Democrats and divide Republicans,” said another senior Republican with direct knowledge of domestic negotiations.
- The senior Republican mentioned that Senator John F. Kennedy (R-La.) Asked Cornin over lunch: “Are we focusing on gang violence and murder in the city? And the answer was, “No, we’re not focusing on that …” And more than a few of us were wondering why the hell not?
- “It would be reasonable and I think a dream. Cornin knows this – it would be wise to give senators enough time to read the bill and study the issues, “Kennedy told Axios.
“We have been told that Sumer wants to vote next week,” the senior Republican added. “And that the Republicans involved in the negotiations are fine with that. Although no one has seen the text of the bill, no one has seen anything more than a few points on one page.”
- “And there is considerable concern that Republicans will join Sumer in blocking the amendments and forcing the package to accept or leave.
Yes, but: The leadership was skeptical that some of these conservative senators would vote on any arms deal they devised, given the composition of their constituencies and – for some – suspected presidential aspirations.
- The bipartisan group, meanwhile, is at a standstill over the final text as Cornin seeks stricter procedural safeguards for red flag laws after hearing these members.
- He also seeks to limit the degree of closure of the “boyfriend’s door” – which would protect weapons from the hands of domestic abusers, single or not.
Background: Anxiety among Republican senators grew stronger when the leadership decided to bypass the Senate Judiciary Committee and introduce a strictly negotiated bill before the Senate’s July 4 break.
- Cornin’s initial quest was to propose a bipartisan bill that could win the support of 20 or more Republicans – not just win the election with the 10 Republican votes needed to break the filibuster.
- “Che [approach] was in response to the complaint that they would bring out 10 Republicans and split our conference, “said a GOP Axios senator.” And what do we get? Last weekend we received a press release from 10 Republican senators and the assumption that this is happening, whether you like it or not. “
The other side: Cornin is aware of the growing conservative reaction and has tried to quell it through a series of media appearances and public statements – including today, when he left the talks and told reporters: “It’s fish or cut bait. I don’t know what they’re up to, but I’m done talking. “
- He also stressed provisions he is fighting not to include in the bill, such as raising the age of purchase of assault weapons to 21.
- Cornin renamed the “Red Flag Laws” – a toxic phrase among conservatives – “crisis intervention.”
- He said he wanted states to be able to use federal grants to “encourage” them to pass red flag laws for other purposes.
A Cornyn aide told Axios that the senator and his staff had answered several questions and received feedback from many of these members and their staff every day this week.
- “Cornin talked and answered questions to one of many of these members. He or our staff was in particularly close contact with Krapo and Lee.
- “Part of the reason McConnell elected him is that he has confidence and experience in this matter and has a wide range of members,” said an aide to the GOP Senate leadership. “He is uniquely suited to take on this challenge.”
The bottom line: given his leadership aspirations, Cornin is taking a bigger risk than the other nine Republican senators who have joined the bipartisan arms security framework.
- Four of these GOP senators are retiring, and none are for re-election this year.
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