Rep. Dave Camp has heard the word “no” before. As usual, he isn’t listening.

Nearly 18 years ago, when the Republican House Ways and Means chairman was an obscure third-term congressman serving on the powerful tax-writing committee, House GOP leaders were ready to throw in the towel on welfare reform following President Clinton‘s second veto. But Camp wouldn’t listen. The Michigander and a GOP colleague circulated a letter that collected the signatures of 100 Republican members demanding that their leaders try again. They agreed to give it another go.