Republicans are united behind President Donald Trump politically, but the internal divides between the House and Senate are like a "dysfunctional family: Dad's drunk again, but we don't talk about it," Rep. Charlie Dent says.
In remarks to Politico, the retiring Pennsylvania Republican said the divides are making difficult issues like immigration reform and long-term government funding bills nearly impossible.
"DACA, debt ceiling, budget, agreement, omnibus? There aren't 218 votes on those," he told Politico. "Are we united on issues? No. We never are. It's not going to change now."
Dent's comments come as GOP lawmakers gathered for their retreat at West Virginia's Greenbrier resort, with the party planning its legislative priorities ahead of November's midterm elections.
According to Politco, Defense Secretary James Mattis even lit into lawmakers at the retreat for failing to provide long-term stability for the military.
"We need to be less divided so that the military can function on a normal, stable basis," Mattis told Republicans, Dent told Politico.
The House GOP is currently considering another short-term funding bill that would fund the federal government through March in the hopes a deal on the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program and funding for a border wall can be reached, The Hill reported.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters he is optimistic, The Hill reported.
"One of my favorite old Kentucky country sayings is 'there's no education in the second kick of a mule,' and so I think there will be a new level of seriousness here trying to resolve these issues," he said, The Hill reported.
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