Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Karma finally strikes Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in the form of a fellow Republican.

Conservatives’ efforts to cripple the U.S. Export-Import Bank are now pitting two powerful Republicans against each other: Senate Banking Chairman Richard Shelby and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Shelby on Thursday defied McConnell’s call to advance a nominee to the board of the Ex-Im Bank, a key financing tool for Boeing Co. and other major exporters. “It’s corporate welfare,” said Shelby, an Alabama Republican, who said he would tell McConnell the same thing. Although McConnell is also an opponent of the bank, on Tuesday he called on Shelby to allow the nominee to get a vote on the Senate floor.

After a big fight last year, the Senate reauthorized the Ex-Im Bank in a 64-29. The House followed suit, with a strong bipartisan 313-118 vote. So Shelby isn't just thwarting the will of his Majority Leader on this, he's thwarting Congress. And President Obama and companies like Boeing.

Even though it was reauthorized, it only has two members on its five-seat board of directors. Which means it can't function because any decision requires a quorum of three. Shelby says nothing will make him relent, and if McConnell tries to bypass him and bring the nomination directly to the floor, he'll create a floor fight "that would probably set a precedent." So, yes, the Senate has pretty much turned into the House, thanks to Republicans.

It's no more than McConnell deserves, but it's sure as hell no way to run a government.

Thanks to dweb8231 for the story tip.