Hidden Hand: Mike Franc, the GOP Whip's Whip

The whip’s whip
Franc, far leftCourtesy of The Heritage Foundation

The job of a House whip seems simple: tally votes before party leaders send a bill to the floor so there aren’t any surprises. Mike Franc is the GOP whip’s whip, getting members to fall in line and give his boss the votes needed to prevail (imagine a polite version of Doug Stamper in House of Cards). It’s not such a simple job right now. Conservatives are rebelling against party leaders as they face big decisions on immigration, the debt ceiling, and the budget.