The Problem With the Shutdown

The Problem With the Shutdown

By: Eric Roche

1/22/18

As many of you were well aware, there was a government shutdown this weekend. Just this morning, Senate leaders struck a deal to reopen the government via a short term continuing resolution. The fact that they again did not pass a full term budget is an issue. However, the bigger problem appears when you examine how we got here.

The fact that we are in 2018 without a budget for 2018 is scandalous. Real work to pass a budget last year kept getting pushed back by a series of continuing resolutions. A continuing resolution is a short term funding measure that funds the government for a short period of time. Continuing resolutions are fine once in a blue moon, but repeatedly making do with CR’s are detrimental to the nation. It creates uncertainty in the markets as the markets operate largely on governmental policies. The biggest harm comes to our military though. As Secretary of Defense Mattis said a few days ago, “Today, as our competitive edge over our foes erodes due to budgetary confusion, even with storm clouds gathering, America’s military, as I speak, is operating under yet another continuing resolution.” The military is harmed when they operate under an uncertain budget. If nothing else, we should be able to pass a budget because of the military aspect alone.

President Trump deserves some blame for the shutdown. He has allowed the Republican Leadership to keep putting the budget off. His inability to control McConnell and Ryan have finally led to this impasse.

Paul Ryan must be given credit where credit is due. His House have been able to pass every single major Republican bill that is brought forth. They managed to pass a budget for 2018. It is in the Senate where it flounders. Mitch McConnell has been an incompetent Senate leader. Every bill there are Republican desertions. On this recent budget, 4 Senators from the right voted with the Democrats. This is unacceptable. Mitch McConnell has to be able to hold his block together like Chuck Schumer is so capable of doing.

Chuck Schumer deserves most of the blame for this shutdown. He continuously refuses to work with Senate Republicans or with President Trump. While he goes through the motions of dealmaking with the other side, these are just for show. This is exhibited by the lie he was caught in last week. He told President Trump the immigration bill gave him all 20 billion for for the wall, when in fact it was less then 2 billion. As a result, Trump pulled out of the deal. Then we came to the budget. Schumer tied DACA to any budget that was in the works. Without DACA Schumer said, then no deal. Even when Republicans were willing to put a long term funding renewal for the Children’s Health Insurance Program into a short term CR, Schumer said no dice. Chuck Schumer was the main reason that we had this shutdown. He put the needs of 800,000 illegal immigrants over the needs of 320 million American citizens. When you stop and think about it, the more ludicrous it seems. Luckily some Democrats thought so too, and 6 Democrats from Trump-winning states voted with the Republicans.

This morning Schumer seemed to have realized the ridiculousness of his own actions, and caved in to yet another short term continuing resolution. However, without Schumer willing to work with the other side, and vice versa, then 2018 will shape up to be a year of inaction on Capitol Hill.