Some Movement on Background Checks

     The question remains, however, if it will be enough. We have some Republican Senators moving towards background checks and tough federal government trafficking laws but still not enough to push Dems to 60-they could lose as many as 3 red state Dems. 

     "The Hill tallies up the state of play: Republican Senators still believed to be gettable are Kelly Ayotte, Dean Heller, Richard Burr, Bob Corker, and possibly Tom Coburn (who will offer his own background check bill with no records, which could give some Republicans a way to vote for background checks without supporting Manchin-Toomey)."

     "There are now three Republicans — McCain, Collins, and Mark Kirk — on board. With a handful of red state Dems (Mark Begich, and possibly Mark Pryor and Heidi Heitkamp) expected to defect, that means Dems need to pick up at least a few more Republicans to put this over the top. It’s going to be very close."

     http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/04/15/the-morning-plum-background-checks-a-major-test-for-self-described-moderate-republicans/

     It was encouraging to see McCain and Collins jump on board yesterday. Sargent points out how difficult it still is for a Republican to vote for even the mildest gun control measures. You'd think common sense would allow Republicans to vote f or mild measures in exchange for killing the assault weapon but the NRA plays scorched earth. Collins has been the target of a gun rights group to the Right of the NRA-who knew that was possible?

     "The New York Times reports that Collins, in a closed door meeting with Senate colleagues last week, angrily tore into the group and described it as the sort of thing that’s making it impossible for Republicans to govern:

Senator Susan Collins, of Maine, eyes blazing, stood up and complained about a series of attack ads that she was facing back home from a gun-rights group with deep ties to Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky.

Ms. Collins, who faces re-election next year, said the gun ads were an example of the kind of internal Republican warfare that has hindered the party in Senate races the last two elections. [...]

Ms. Collins warned her colleagues that if she loses a primary to a strong opponent with gun-rights credentials, it could well cost the party her seat…Then Mr. Paul, feeling attacked, stormed out.

     "Apparently Senator Paul still won’t call out this far right group, which portrays literally any sort of cooperation at all with the most modest and popular aspects of Obama’s agenda as akin to morphing into him."

     http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/04/15/the-morning-plum-background-checks-a-major-test-for-self-described-moderate-republicans/

    There are also some House GOPers who support background checks:

     Still more movement over the weekend, documented by the Post:

Republican House members from Pennsylvania with past NRA endorsements indicated support for the Toomey-Manchin approach, including Reps. Michael G. Fitzpatrick, Patrick Meehan and Charlie Dent.

     "This is consistent with what I’ve been telling you: that there are perhaps a few dozen House GOPers — from suburban districts or districts that went for Obama – who could still be gettable.'

       The truth is that background checks could probably pass the House today provided Boehner allowed it to come up for a vote-something he may well do based on recent history. For a lot of good legislation there are enough votes in the House provided it comes up for a vote; there are usually enough reasonable or pragmatic Republicans to pick off.