Sen. Corker: Efforts to Defund Obamacare 'Silly'

Republican Sen. Bob Corker said Tuesday he thinks efforts to vote against appropriations bills in order to defund Obamacare are "silly."

The Tennessee senator, appearing on MSNBC Tuesday, said Republican lawmakers need to get to work dealing with spending decisions that matter, reports The Washington Post.

"I think it's a silly effort," Corker said. "What people are really saying who are behind that effort is we don't have the courage to roll up our sleeves and deal with real deficit reduction and spending decisions."

Corker said those promoting the defunding effort are actually avoiding the tough budget decisions.

"We want to take ourselves out of the debate and act like we're being principled to the American people. I don't look at that as very courageous," Corker said. "I think most of us see through it and realize these people are really just taking themselves out of the debate."

Last week, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said he and other conservatives were spearheading a movement to refuse to vote in favor of appropriations bills needed to keep the government running unless Obamacare is defunded.

Corker's statements are the latest in a line of other Republicans who have dismissed Lee's plan. Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, for example, called Lee's plan the "dumbest idea" he had ever heard.

Even Lee appears to be backing down from his original statements, telling Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace that the government will be funded one way or another, but "the question is whether the government gets funded with Obamacare or without it."