Republican senators aren’t sure what to do between now and the November elections. So they’re conducting a poll — of themselves.

Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee have been quietly circulating an unusual “survey” of their colleagues in recent weeks asking about their level of support for dozens of legislative proposals, some of them highly controversial.


The areas under consideration include taking another stab at repealing and scaling back Obamacare; trying for Round 2 of tax cuts; eliminating or reining in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; defunding Planned Parenthood and other anti-abortion rights measures; instituting work requirements for federal welfare programs; expanding gun rights; instituting budget reforms; and dozens more.

Yet the Cruz-Alexander poll will likely show that Obamacare repeal still can’t get 50 GOP votes, according to Republican sources who’ve already taken the temperature of the caucus, and that any proposal to make the Trump tax cuts permanent couldn’t clear the 60-vote filibuster bar.

Further complicating matters, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) isn't interested in holding “messaging” votes he knows will fail.

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Still, the survey could show areas where 30 or so senators from each caucus could team up, such as regulatory reform or education legislation.

There is also another reality for Republicans on Capitol Hill this fall: President Donald Trump drives political debate these days, and very little they do will get much media attention. Trump's scheduled meeting next week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the machinations of special counsel Robert Mueller, and the president's moves on tariffs and trade will dominate the headlines.

The most GOP lawmakers can do is try to help burnish their résumés as they head into the campaign, or make it more uncomfortable for Senate Democrats in tough races.

At the urging of rank-and-file Republicans, McConnell is expected to announce next week that he is dramatically shortening the traditional monthlong August recess, so the Senate can stay in town and pass 2019 spending bills and other legislative items.

Cruz and Alexander — with the blessing of McConnell and other top Republicans — want to get a sense of what, if anything, the Senate GOP Conference can do beyond its current agenda, according to a Republican source privy to internal party dynamics.

“Our hope is to get a sense of the Conference on what legislative proposals can command 50 votes, and what is most important to each of you — additional victories we can achieve together in 2018,” Cruz and Alexander said in a May 16 letter. They based their efforts on a similar survey last year by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) that led to congressional repeal of Obama-era regulations opposed by business groups.

Senate GOP leaders already have several items on their to-do list. This summer, McConnell hopes to pass bills on national defense policy, agriculture, water infrastructure, and fighting opioid addiction. They are also pushing ahead on confirming more judicial and administration nominees named by Trump.

McConnell also hopes to jump-start the appropriations process, although only a portion of the 2019 spending bills will get done by the Sept. 30 government-funding deadline. An extension of current funding is expected to be passed before then.

Before the Memorial Day recess, McConnell touted the defense, water infrastructure and funding bills moving through Congress — but made no mention of Obamacare, immigration, tax cuts or votes to put vulnerable Democratic incumbents on the spot.

Cruz, who is up for reelection in November, is trying to push as many conservative legislative measures as possible, worried that the potential loss of the House or the Senate this fall will curtail the GOP’s ambitions under Trump.

Once a McConnell antagonist, Cruz sought out Alexander’s support to help make the survey effort less confrontational and more collaborative. The Tennessee Republican suggested letting senators make their own legislative suggestions if they were uncomfortable picking from Cruz’s mostly conservative list, said a person familiar with the effort.

“Sen. Cruz believes Republicans have a historic opportunity in 2018, with control of the executive and legislative branches, to deliver on the promises we have made to the American people and energize our base,” said a Cruz spokesman. “With only months left in the current Congress, it is critical that the conference work together to accomplish more legislative victories.”

Cruz is not alone in trying to push a conservative agenda. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he’s been “frustrated” the Republican-controlled Senate hasn’t done more.

“I hope we come up with an agenda beyond just confirming the judges; we’re working on that,” Graham said in an interview. Despite “the frustrations of the moment, you never lose sight of the fact that Mitch is very good at what he does.”

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is eager to try to repeal Obamacare in August. And Americans for Prosperity, the influential outside group, is pressing for a vote on extending the Trump tax cuts, even at a 60-vote threshold for passage. Conceivably, that would allow red-state Democrats to vote for the measure while the bulk of Senate Democrats move to block it.

“Some people are trying to make a political argument not to do it. But on a policy front it should just be done,” said AFP President Tim Phillips.

AFP spokesman Bill Riggs said the group is also urging the Senate to take up another health care overhaul, criminal justice reform and spending cuts — none of which McConnell has committed to because of internal GOP disputes and lack of support.

