Now, less than two days after the government was shut down, more than 17 Republicans have said that they are ready to pass a “clean” funding bill — that is, one with no strings attached (in particular, no defunding of Obamacare, or other changes to health care reform).
Yes, that means that if Speaker John Boehner brought the latest Senate funding bill to a vote in the House, it would pass (presuming that all Democrats vote for it). After that it would easily pass the Senate and Obama would sign it, ending the shutdown.
So not only are a majority of Americans against forcing a shutdown unless Obama defunds Obamacare, but so are a majority of Congress critters. The only thing keeping the government shut down is John Boehner, who is kowtowing to a radical and dangerous faction in his own party, refusing to bring a clean funding bill to a vote.
Ironically, Boehner again blamed the shutdown on Obama, saying “They will not negotiate.” But the truth is that Democrats already compromised, lowering the funding amount to $988 billion as the Republicans demanded. But that was not enough. If the Republicans aren’t allowed to seriously harm health care reform, they just grab their toys and go home.
UPDATE: Obama has picked up this point.
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Wonkblog has the ultimate quote – a Eepublican congressman saying “We have to get something to pass the bill, and we don’t even know what it is.” This shutdown is like no other – if Republicans cave, they will be humiliated and the moderates will be attacked by the Tea Party and lose their jobs. And if Democrats give ANY concessions, they are setting the terrible precedent tha hostage taking and extortion is how government will work now and in the future.
That’s why Wm’s headline and post here is so exactly right. The only way out is for Boehner to do his job and bring the bill to the floor as is and let the Teapublicans revolt. And I don’t think he is strong enough to do it.
Interestingly, after I wrote this post a friend sent me this editorial from the NY Times — headline is “John Boehner’s Shutdown”.
And here’s the link to the article that Arthanyel mentions — http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/03/wonkbook-why-the-shutdown-will-be-so-hard-to-end-in-one-perfect-quote/ The actual quote is “We’re not going to be disrespected. We have to get something out of this. And I don’t know what that even is.”
I still love Eva’s solution. The Democrats agree to defund Obamacare, while the Republicans agree to fully fund the Affordable Care Act. Nobody breathes a word that they are actually the same thing. Everyone is happy. Problem solved.
Obama and Democrats should have let this happen the first time the Republicans held the country hostage if they didn’t get their way. And the second and third time too. The first debt ceiling “crisis”, the “fiscal cliff”, etc. – the Democrats caved and gave too many concessions each time. Now the Republicans are in their weakest position yet, but because they have gotten their way in the past they expect to get it now. Boehner’s quote says it all.. they actually think it would be “disrespect” if they don’t get “something” out of the mess they have single-handedly caused. They feel entitled to get their way.
If anyone is doing anything disrespectful it’s those that are trying to block implementation of the ACA years after it was passed, signed, challenged, upheld, etc. They act like the ACA is still something to be debated rather than firmly entrenched law, which it is at this point.
In negotiations, you have to give something others to feel good about. I do not think this will end until Republicans get something, no matter how silly it may be.
This is not something that requires negotiation. This is a routine procedural part of the Congress’ job that the Republicans are holding hostage in an effort to turn it into a negotiation and get concessions on completely unrelated issues. It worked for them the last 2-3 times they did it (debt ceiling, fiscal cliff); I very much hope that the president stands up to them this time and stops giving in to the demands of Republicans and fueling their belief that taking hostages and threatening the country is an effective way to govern from the minority position.
He has not stood firm all that often, if ever, but one can hope. With any luck, many of the Republicans will not get reelected after this debacle. That’s the only upside I can see.
Who are the democrats who will not vote for a clean CR? They need to be crucified.
I didn’t say there were any Democrats who would vote against it. I said “presuming” all of them would. Until they actually vote, we don’t know. But I’m sure they would.
cant give in to blackmail and Obama must stand hios ground , those ultra right wing guys are not representative of anyone