Congress's response, and that of several Republican senators in particular, was a loud no.
Remember it takes only 51 votes to make any decision, and there are 55 Republican senators.
Up to a dozen Republican senators may have been opposed.
Several Republican senators said that they felt abandoned by the governor in their hour of need.
Republican senators said that they had not been allowed to offer enough amendments.
There are 55 Republican senators, so getting to 51 is not a high hurdle.
Whatever their private views, most Republican senators today predicted there would be little change.
Republican senators from the West have resisted such new federal powers in the past.
Republican senators said today that they expected to win some Democratic votes for their bill without making significant concessions.
Seven Republican senators have said publicly that they oppose the president's plan.
Unless he gets in their face, Republican senators will do nothing.
"Maybe so," said a ranking Republican senator on a recent visit.
He was the only Republican Senator to vote against the bill.
Cosmetic change is just what Republican senators have now offered.
Conservative Republican senators say they will try to block the arms treaty.
At their lunch today, Republican senators agreed that this was a realistic approach.
Each Republican senator gets an average of $2 million a year to distribute, many times what the Democrats get.
The story does not say which Republican Senators advanced this view.
Other Republican Senators received $500,000 or more in member items that year.
Getting to know a very, very new Republican senator.
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