Influence Alley

There were at least 20 members notably absent from the hastily called GOP conference where House Speaker John Boehner announced he didn't have the votes for Plan B.

These lawmakers had something else in mind, rather than listening to Boehner say they didn't have the votes and that there was no more action until after Christmas.

These lawmakers were in the mood for gumbo.

This Cajun Supper Club was sending off one of their own, the conservative stalwart Rep. Jeff Landry, R-La., who recently lost reelection. What this meant, is that while the GOP leadership struggled to whip up votes for Plan B late in the evening, a number of "no-votes" weren't around to have their arms twisted until they said yes.

With the House in recess after voting on the NDAA, Reps. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Steve Southerland of Florida, would not commit their vote one way or another, but didn't seem too concerned. When asked what their thoughts on Plan B were, they went into something of an Abbot and Costello routine.

"Plan B?" said Gowdy. "To gumbo?"

"I hope there isn't a plan B. I was really counting on the gumbo," said Southerland with a laugh.