Cruz charges into Ex-Im battle

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has drifted to the middle of the pack of Republican presidential contenders, is girding for his next battle with GOP leaders: reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. --The firebrand conservative on Wednesday challenged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) to block any vote on reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank next month. Pro-trade Democrats say McConnell promised them a vote on the reauthorization of Ex-Im in exchange for their support of a trade package last month. “Leadership in both chambers has said there is no deal. --Excellent. Prove it. If there is no deal, we should let Ex-Im expire and let it stay expired,” Cruz said at a speech at the Heritage Foundation entitled “The People v. The Washington Cartel.”

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(Hat tip: KimR)