He has opposition even from fellow Republicans, but Sen. Ted Cruz is standing behind his decision to push for a vote to shut down the government as a means of defunding Obamacare.
"If we want to stop this train wreck from hitting hard-working American families, the time to do so is now," the freshman from Texas said Wednesday on Fox News Channel's "Special Report." President Barack Obama desperately wants the exchanges and subsidies in place by January, Cruz said, so the administration can "get people hooked on Obamacare so it can never be unwound."
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The continuing resolution that funds the federal government expires Sept. 30, and Cruz, along with Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., are hoping to garner enough votes to prevent the resolution from being re-enacted for another year. But Cruz said they don't currently have enough votes in either house and need the public to put pressure on Republicans.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., told Fox the action is the political equivalent of a temper tantrum and could create a backlash that could cost Republicans in Congress.
But Cruz argued that the power of the purse is the most important check and balance the Constitution gives Congress when dealing with and overreaching executive branch.
"If we're going to repeal it we've got to do so now or it will remain with us forever," Cruz said.
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