DC Lobbyists Cheer Boehner's War on Tea Party

Lobbyists are reportedly “pumping their fists” over House Speaker John Boehner’s declaration of war against the Tea Party last week.

According to The Hill, lobbyists were “pleasantly surprised by” Boehner’s “strident remarks” last week in which he said Tea Party groups have lost “all credibility” after they opposed the budget compromise that increased taxes. Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin said Boehner’s words were a declaration of war on grassroots conservatives.

The budget deal was brokered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). Amnesty supporters, including big-business lobbyists, wanted the deal so it could clear the legislative calendar for comprehensive immigration reform, which the Congressional Budget Office determined would lower the wages of working-class Americans.

The budget deal passed the House on Thursday, and the Senate will take up the measure this week. 

“You didn’t hear all the applause across downtown?” Dirk Van Dongen, president and CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), told The Hill. “Folks were absolutely pleased that he said it… It needed to be said.” 

The Chamber of Commerce said it will target conservatives in the 2014 midterm election, especially those who oppose amnesty. Grassroots conservative groups have fired back. Club for Growth has responded by pointing out, “Corporations are some of the biggest seekers of welfare in this country.” Heritage Action for America, meanwhile, has commented, “The fact that K Street is applauding confirms that the deal was bad, and Speaker Boehner’s comments confirm conservatives’ worst suspicions about Washington — that the game is rigged.”

Moreover, on Friday, Michael Needham, Heritage Action’s CEO, emphasized that Boehner “wants to clear the way for immigration reform next year,” which is something big-business interests and the the high-tech lobby have coveted. Conservative talk radio host Mark Levin also slammed Boehner for rushing the budget through and blasting conservatives because he wanted amnesty for illegal immigrants.  

When the budget deal was announced, Breitbart News reported that such a deal may clear the way for a vote on amnesty in the House in the early part of 2014.