Representatives John Boehner and Eric Cantor on Tuesday. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty)
Isn’t this kind of like when instead of studying you write a crib sheet—and then learn the material anyway? House Republicans are reportedly going to allow the Violence Against Women Act to pass without actually forcing their members to vote for it, sources told Talking Points Memo Tuesday. Confused? Here’s the plan: the Rules Commission added a caveat in the House bill that if it isn’t passed, the Democrat- and moderate Republican–approved Senate bill will go to an up or down vote in the House—which it is likely to get. More-conservative House Republicans have taken issue with the Senate bill’s protections for gays, Native Americans, and undocumented workers, but the Senate has refused to budge. If the Senate bill passes, everyone wins—especially women.
