Ok, it’s not a done deal yet but it seems as though the House of Representatives has managed to pass another short-term Continuing Resolution to avert a government shutdown during the holidays. More importantly it’s a “clean” CR that will likely get swift passage over in the Senate and be on President Biden’s desk before the Friday night deadline. That’s the good news. The bad news is that as was the case at the end of Sept. when former Speaker McCarthy worked out a 45 day CR (and lost his gavel for doing so) this too is a short-term fix hence the headline about (again) kicking the proverbial can down the road for a bit. At least the government will stay open during the holidays, and people will get their paychecks and crucial services will continue.
Still, this mess isn’t over and in the new year a new set (yes, set – I’ll get to that) is looming. In the meantime let’s look at the deal that got made for this short-term avoidance of a shutdown disaster. NBC News published a write-up of what transpired that led to today’s 336-95 vote passing the CR (209 Democrats and 127 Republicans voted in favor) that delves into the details. Let’s start with something basic, something I ridiculed which was Speaker Johnson’s “laddered” approach. Well, he got his way to a degree.
The new speaker’s so-called laddered continuing resolution, or CR, would fund part of the government — including the Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs departments — through Jan. 19, and fund the Defense Department and other remaining parts of the government through Feb. 2.
Note that I said Johnson only got part of what he wanted. Minority Leader Jeffries kept his cards close to his vest in recent days. Jeffries knew as did everyone that Johnson would have a bunch of Republicans object and that Democratic votes would be needed to pass anything. It turns out that although as late as this morning Jeffries was non-committal he was leaning towards helping Johnson out. At the same time, he expected something in return. As two top appropriators (Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.) said in a closed door meeting Democrats couldn’t be “cheap dates” and help pass a CR without getting something in return. Democrats of course wanted all those RWNJ amendments stripped out but more specifically demands in the caucus included “topline spending numbers and agreements on funding caps for the 12 spending bills, while others pushed for assurances that the House will vote on Israel and Ukraine aid.”
Well, Democrats didn’t manage to get all that – aid for Ukraine (and Israel too) aren’t part of the package. Still, it’s a “clean” CR and that’s something. It buys both sides time to hammer out more stuff, including (ok – I’m probably fantasizing here) possibly passing the remaining actual appropriations bills. Under what’s known as regular order there are eleven of those suckers that have to be approved to have a budget. In any case, an awful lot of House Republicans are unhappy campers tonight, issuing statements that are either critical and not getting what they wanted is why they voted no, or critical but saying unlike McCarty Johnson deserves a chance, some breathing room to try and help the GOP obtain what they want after the first of the year. Still, the Freedom Caucus who engineered McCarthy’s ouster isn’t happy even though the “laddered” approach was their idea:
It “contains no spending reductions, no border security, and not a single meaningful win for the American People,” the Freedom Caucus said in its statement.
The CR was however “clean” (the very thing the Freedom Caucus and others are complaining about) so even though there was nothing with regards to aid for Ukraine and Israel Jeffries figured (correctly I think) that’s as good as we can do and under the circumstances it’s pretty damned good. As a result he told the Democratic Caucus “we can live with this” and all but two wound up voting for the proposal. It’s expected as I noted earlier that the Senate will pass it and that President Biden will sign it.
With a possible shutdown still hanging out there like the sword of Damocles and so many MAGAs itching for a fight (and yes, a shutdown!) it won’t exactly be “Happy Holidays” for Congress or anyone else. But at least things will be semi-normal and most folks will be able to push the issue to the backs of their minds and somewhat enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Republicans are why Moody’s cut our country’s financial rating and our allies don’t count on the USA the way they once did. Republicans (voters, politicians, and donors) have shown in the 21st century that they are fascist democracy hating scum. Their may be three or four reasons these people are the way they are, but the end result is they aren’t real Americans. America is the richest and potentially the most powerful force for good in this world, yet Republicans insist government is like the family household. They confuse macro and micro economics. They confuse everything. In their mind it all comes down to ‘My dad can beat up your dad.’
they don’t even use household rules. if you are having trouble making ends meet, you don’t sell the car you need to get to work! but they want to cut government revenues, tax cuts and defunding the IRS are their go-to policies. cut investment in America, ruin the economy, and high five each other.
The comments sections I read elsewhere in MSM are, properly, derisive of the Rs, more succinctly and consistently than I’ve seen in a long, long time. Please proceed. When your poster girl is Elise Stefanik…