A few days ago, we had all but worked out a budget deal that included continuing DACA. Trump had said he would sign it, so Dick Durbin and Lindsey Graham went to the White House to confirm the deal. When they arrived, Trump had done an about face and the result was his vicious "shit hole countries" outburst. From what I understand, House Republicans had rejected the deal, so Trump staged the conflict so he would have an excuse to blame the Republican failure on Democrats.
Congress has three days to avert a government shutdown, and House Speaker Paul Ryan is stuck.
On Tuesday, GOP leaders proposed a short-term government spending bill to extend the shutdown deadline for one more month — one that would fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years in an effort to entice Democrats, and delay several Obamacare taxes to throw a bone to conservative Republicans. It would not include a deal on immigration.
Short-term spending isn’t popular on either side of the aisle. The Democratic base has grown increasingly agitated about the looming expiration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, calling on their lawmakers to use the threat of government shutdown to win legislative protections for the DREAMers. Meanwhile, Republican defense hawks have been frustrated with the lack of permanent defense funding, warning that it hobbles the military’s ability to appropriately plan resources.
GOP leaders’ calculus: The short-term spending bill would pass in the House with only Republican votes, where the majority is big enough to do that, and then jam Senate Democrats, many of whom are in politically vulnerable seats.
But on Tuesday night, this strategy ran into a government shutdown–size problem.
“Based on the number of ‘no’ and undecided votes, there [are] not enough votes for a Republican-only bill,” Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), the leader of the House’s archconservative Freedom Caucus, told reporters.
Then on Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), whose bipartisan immigration proposal was nixed by the president last week, said he too would not vote for a short-term spending bill in the Senate… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Vox>
If I said I wasn’t worried, I’d be lying, as I’m on Social Security, and I believe Republicans would withhold benefits, even though that is illegal, in the event of a shutdown. I don’t like the hits a one month deal makes to Obamacare, but six years of funding for CHIP is hard to pass up for a one month DACA delay, since the courts have ruled that DACA must continue. Nevertheless, I’m inclined to oppose it. Regardless, we need to keep people informed that, if there is a shutdown, which appears more likely than not, it’s a 100% Republican shutdown.
RESIST THE REPUBICAN REICH!!
10 Responses to “Avoiding a Shutdown”
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I’m no political expert, but I would not be surprised if another shutdown turns out to be the final nail in the current GOP’s coffin. Actually, both major parties need to either reform or die!
I’m on Social Security also, and what’s more, I just incurred a hefty car repair bill, so I understand. Whatever they do, we will have to find a way to live through, so naturally I hope it isn’t too painful. But I also hope it will lay ground for long term improvements. Sigh.
gop=Sumabithches! Hope that get this fixed. Like Joanne and many others, we (spouse & I), are on SS, and need it to get through each month.
C’mon, Dems, show your might!
Joanne, love your pic!!
Absolutely disgusting (but predictable) that republicans would hold children as hostages in their “Let the CHIPs fall where they may” ploy.
F\/CK ‘Em!
Republicans will try to put the blame on Democrats no matter what, so Democrats might just as well refuse to bow to this blackmail and let the Republican shutdown take its course. The suggestion of funding CHIPS for another six years not worth the paper it’s written on; Republicans have shown themselves untrustworthy in almost every deal they’ve made in the past decade and even in the unlikely event they would honor their agreement, Drumpf surely won’t.
So a shutdown seems unavoidable, but I’m very worried about my many American friends who depend on social security and who fear it might be illegally compromised by a shutdown. I really hope none of you will be forced to make such a sacrifice.
While it wasn’t exactly the way I expected it to happen, Drumpf just
The man is completely out of control.
Thanks, hugs, and shutdown-bound Amen to all!
Is it time for another “Boston Tea Party” only instead of King Georgie, it is King Drumpf and his Republican minions that are the target?
It is unconscionable to hold the citizenry hostage, and should be constitutionally illegal. I hope that with a government shut down, this also means lawmakers do not get paid either. Still getting paid would just add insult to injury!
If you think that the government is there to look after the interests of the population,as a whole, then you will not see a GOPig lead congress doing its job. They think their “job” is to kiss up to s**hole Charles Koch, who is their real boss, you know, the one with the paycheck! The Freedom Caucus is just a new name of Koch’s Tea Party, and all they want the freedom to do is to run the county for nobody’s interest but, virtually, his own.
House Republicans are run by the Koch machine, and I’m sure Big Charles made a few phone calls….