How many House Republicans will support a compromise budget?

 The Senate has passed its 13 budget bills, and eyes now turn to the House-Senate conference committee that must reconcile the newer Senate proposals with the insanity that came out of the House. Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) has been diplomatic in explaining the Senate's rejection of the House budget plan. Here's a fascinating (not sure that's the right word) metaphor from Nodler explaining the core differences between the Senate and House budgets:

Nodler compared the Senate's approach to that of one of his friends, who had cancer in a leg and opted to try to treat it before immediately amputating the leg. The state programs that would be supported next year with federal dollars still might have to be cut in the future, if the economy and state revenues do not pick up.

“We're not cutting off the leg now, but we understand that if the medical condition deteriorates, that might become necessary,” Nodler said.

His "friends," of course, are the House Republicans, and the "legs" that his friends want to "amputate" are tens of thousands of struggling children and parents and neighbors.

Presumably, with Nodler's credentials as a fiscal conservative, a significant number of House Republicans to put aside their concerns with slavery, nanny states and socialist hoards long enough to support a budget that addresses more of the needs of struggling families. House Budget Chair Allen Icet has already indicated some flexibility -- "as we go through the process, where people are on different issues is always subject to change" -- and multiple sources in the Capitol believe that the Senate will prevail on the big issues.

Something has to give to get a budget passed on time. It will be interesting to watch.