I believe it's a tactical battle on each side to show the voters how bad the other guys are. Boner and congress think by stalling on all issues they can force Obama to take exec action. That is an attempt to sway the midterm elections by making them dems look like they are running a kingdom. Obama on the other hand is doing everything he can to make the republicans look like they are un willing to cooperate, they are and so is he. The American people lose on this deal .