Originally Posted by Dude

Two words: Hastert Rule.

It says that unless a "majority of the majority" don't support a bill, it won't be put up for a vote in the house. So we need 124 GOP reps to agree to support the bill, otherwise it won't be put up for a vote by Paul Ryan.

It's similar but not the same in the senate, even if 12 or 22 GOP senators support it, Mitch McConnell won't put it to a vote even though he knows he it would pass with mostly democrat votes.