All in an obstructionist's days work

Several House members told The Washington Post on Monday that Republican leaders have narrowed their list of possible debt-limit strategies to two options: trading a one-year extension for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, or trading a one-year extension for repeal of a provision of the Affordable Care Act.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday said immigration reform poses an "irresolvable conflict" between the two chambers and predicted that it won't be completed in 2014.

"I think we have a sort of irresolvable conflict here," he told reporters at his weekly press conference. "The Senate insists on comprehensive [reform], the House says it won't go to conference with the Senate on comprehensive, and wants to look at step-by-step [reform]. I don't see how you get to an outcome this year with the two bodies in such different places."