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"They offered some options and it looks like something is going to come out of there that is a budget we can support," Rep. Steve King said. "There will be budgets out there on the floor that every one of us can support a budget."
The other reason Republicans were more willing to cooperate than they have been in the past is that there is an overwhelming sense that defense spending is still a holy grail for the party. Even as the party's libertarian wing beats its drum, defense spending is still an overwhelming priority for much of the caucus.
Excess spending on domestic programs remains something conservatives are steadfastly opposed to, but upping the ante on national defense at a time when the U.S. faces new threats from terrorism abroad seems easier for many Republicans to swallow.
"Our number one job is national security," Ellmers said. "We live in a very dangerous world and this is not a time for us to look at this as a fiscal issue. This is a time to look at this as strength for the American people."
But whether the strategy can be copied and used again to placate all sides of the GOP's conference on more contentious issues in the future, like tax reform or a debt ceiling vote, is still uncertain.
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"Every vote is different," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a moderate who has often been on the side of leadership.
Added Rep. Virginia Fox: "I don't know what it portends for the future in terms of other votes, but I know it is something essential that we have to get done and it will allow us to do a lot of other positive things and I hope that is recognized by everyone in the conference."
Democrats, however, are confident that a singular "Kumbaya" moment won't be enough to help Republican leaders erase the last several months. Republicans, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer says, are just playing nice temporarily so they "do not totally implode."
"At some point in time, they are going to have to come to grips with reality," Hoyer said.
Even though Republicans in the House can unite around a budget like Price Two, there are still more obstacles to overcome in the Senate. It's not just the House that has to prove it can function. In the Senate, disagreements over defense spending have overshadowed budget discussions. It's going to be up to senators there to determine House leadership's future. Even though Boehner got a victory on his court, if Senate Republicans drop the ball on theirs, it could discentevize conservatives in the House to go along with leadership's strategies in the future.
Senate Republicans, however, say that any fruitful House actions make their job easier.
"I am real proud of them over in the House for doing what they are doing," Sen. Orrin Hatch said. "This is kind of remarkable."
Rachel Roubein contributed to this article