Many of Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) Republican peers are confused about why he has changed his role from stirring up conservative anger to leading the charge to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The senator from Texas has a history of making things difficult for leaders. However, he has recently changed his tune and has been warning Republicans for months not to get in the way of the last must-pass bill in Congress.
But politicians who have seen Cruz’s mischief up close and personal over the years, especially during fights over government spending, don’t miss the irony.
One Republican in the Senate told The Hill, “It’s been fun to watch!” and then cited the movie “Airplane!” “What is the old joke in Hollywood?” “It’s the other foot that’s on the ground.”
Several senators told The Hill that Cruz has been the target of many jokes from his peers at the weekly Senate GOP luncheons for the past two weeks. When Cruz tries to keep the bill on track to pass before Friday at midnight and keep unrelated changes out of the final bill, most members can’t help but give him high marks for his work on the FAA.
On Wednesday, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) laughed as he left lunch to take a call. “Let’s just say he’s taking a lot of ribbing right now in there,” he said. He is, of course, trying to convince them that this is different from the other times he insisted on voting on amendments since this one was much clearer. A few people find it amusing that he is cooperating.
Someone else in the Senate said that Cruz has been annoyed by the “obstinance” and last-minute holds of some members.
“Most of the time, it’s been him.” “He’s getting what’s coming to him,” the member joked. “That’s kind of funny.”
Cruz is the top Republican on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. He is in charge of finalizing the FAA deal that will extend the program for another five years. After more than a decade of giving leaders trouble and gaining seniority, he is now discussing what lawmakers have called a “complex package.” This is new ground for him.
He has also said that the way the FAA bill was written and how it was put together should be used as an example for future talks between Republicans and Democrats. Cruz said that he and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, spoke in regular order and had a long markup process. Members on and off the committee were successful in getting amendments and goals included.
The bill got through the group without a single vote, which is where it is now.
Members are particularly angry at Cruz this time because the FAA bill is the last chance for lawmakers to attach their pet projects, most of which have nothing to do with travel or aviation, to a bill that needs to be passed before the fall and, ironically, the push to fund the government for fiscal 2025. When Republicans tried to shut down the government for 16 days in 2013 to stop funding the Affordable Care Act, he was one of the main people behind it.
Members say that Cruz is still very much in on the laughs. A lot of people in the Senate know him for being funny.
Cramer said, “One thing about smart people is that they’re smart.” “I believe he gets it.”
At lunch on Wednesday, Cruz told The Hill that a moderate member “was having great joy giving me grief” over the ongoing fight to keep the FAA push on track as lawmakers.
When asked about it, Cruz said, “I just laughed and said, ‘I’m not even going to fight back.'”
This huge nonpartisan project comes at a very important time for Cruz as well, since he is running for re-election in November against Rep. Colin Allred (Texas), who is also a well-funded Democrat.
The senator, who has been elected twice, is still the favorite to win re-election in the Lone Star State. However, he has spent months trying to show that he is good with people of both parties in order to close down moderates and make it impossible for Allred to use fear tactics like those used by former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) six years ago.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) recently said that Democrats were going to win the seat, even though the party has had a hard time in the state for decades and they have a long way to go. Since 1994, no Democrat has won the whole state of Texas.
Cruz said that he will be running for office in his home state soon on the FAA bill. A direct flight between Reagan Washington National Airport and San Antonio is likely to be one of the best things about this deal for the state. Cruz said that there are a lot of current duty military and veterans living in San Antonio and that a flight to and from an airport just steps away from the Pentagon would be very helpful for the state.
Senate Republicans are well aware of Cruz’s past because he likes to make them angry. They do agree, though, that he has been very important at the FAA and that being in that role can change the way you think.
When you want something to happen, the congressional process can look a little different than it does other times, said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who praised Cruz for “handling a difficult bill with a lot of moving parts.”
He added with a laugh, “People are having fun with it.” “It’s all funny in a friendly way.”
