Tue Dec 16, 2014 AT 8:49 AM EST
Texas Senator Ted Cruz lit the spark for a new GOP civil war with his opposition to the “cromnibus” legislation last week, reports Politico. Outside conservative groups view Saturday’s vote as merely the opening shot in a war for purity for 2016 primary elections. At the same time, Republican Senators are blaming Cruz for the confirmation of dozens of Obama judicial nominees, reports the Huffington Post.