“Funding deal has wins for both sides” (see reference below)
Why does the statement above have any pertinacity when Republicans have the Presidency, majorities in Congress and a platform that directly opposes what was conceded?
Which party is in charge again???
What happened to that part of the “Art of the Deal” about being willing to walk away?
We know . . . “we aren’t done yet” but is that just a regurgitation of the Republican leadership promises about “you must continue to elect us and we will do all these things”?
Republican led state legislatures are not nearly as trepidatious as”leaders” Ryan, McConnell. They are not as willing to ignore mandates or as underhanded or artificial in doing so.
No border barrier money, paltry money for defense readiness in the face of North Korea and Iran nuclear threats, sanctuary cities still allowed to thwart law enforcement, continued funding of abortion syndicate Planned Parenthood and more.
And as to Trump? Where is the blame on congressional leadership he was so willing to place on the Liberty Caucus? Has he been educated cowered to the ways of Washington by Ryan and McConnell?
Where are the tough statements from the RNC, from state GOP entities, from Ryan and McConnell and Trump that the fall will absolutely remedy those matters or “we do not deserve your support and you will have our resignations” because clearly they are not up to the task and the mandate received.
From the AP report of the continuing resolution deal to fund government and avoid a “government shutdown” (that no one would notice). Excerpt.
Deal on Government Funding Reached, Averting Shutdown
The Latest: Funding deal has wins for both sides
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the bill being negotiated on Capitol Hill to fund the government through September (all times local):
The $1T budget deal that congressional negotiators have reached this weekend will keep the government running through September and includes some wins for both political parties.
The measure funding the remainder of the 2017 budget year eliminates cuts to popular domestic programs like medical research and infrastructure grants. Trump did obtain $1.5 billion for border security measures such as additional detention beds. And he got a $15 billion down payment on his efforts to strengthen the military.
GOP leaders also did not try to use the must-do spending bill to “defund” Planned Parenthood and the White House backed away from language to take away grants from “sanctuary cities” that do not share information about people’s immigration status with federal authorities.
The measure is assured of winning bipartisan support in votes this week. The House and Senate have until midnight Friday to pass the measure and thereby avert a government shutdown.
Indeed, “a win for both sides” can only reflect the presumption that the preexisting political establishment is still in charge, and the media presumption that Democrats, after losing Congress, are co-governing if not calling the shots.
This aptly titled post by Natalia Castro writing at Net Right Daily makes an excellent point.
At some point, keeping the government open will be the only thing accomplished
In President Trump’s first 100 days, he did not shut down the government; however, that seems to have come at a pretty hefty price — that is, most of the President and the GOP’s promises to the American people. In order to avert a shutdown, the House and the Senate negotiators reached an agreement over the weekend. The next deadline, in the constant budget crisis, will be at the end of the fiscal year, September 30.
The large problem with this continuing resolution though, is that it does not appear to include some pretty critical pieces of Trump campaign, such as the border wall, healthcare reform, defense funding, the defunding of Planned Parenthood, or tax reform.
It would appear when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer threatens a partial government shutdown if any of these elements are included in the appropriation legislation — or any other legislation — Republicans have little issue backing down.
Meanwhile, Democrats demanded Obamacare subsidies be extended in the budget and threatened a shutdown once again if they were removed as Republicans have promised. But alas, an administration official and Congressional sources confirmed for NPR on April 26, that “The White House…will not cut off federal subsidies that help low-income Americans pay for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, at least for now.”
Once again, the Democrats threatened a shutdown and got exactly what they wanted, while the Republicans rolled over. Without even a majority in Congress, Democrats are still being allowed to call the shots.
Instead of critical defense funding President Trump promised, Democrats are bailing out insurance companies. Trump took his frustration to twitter, tweeting, “Democrats jeopardizing the safety of our troops to bail out their donors from insurance companies. It is time to put #AmericaFirst” But Trump continues to maintain, “I promise to rebuild our military and secure our border. Democrats want to shut down the government. Politics!”
If he hopes to keep this promise, the next week will be vital to his plan’s success.
Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning explains, “President Trump needs to double down on the continuing resolution now… When Schumer predictably shuts down the government over the wall, then President Trump should make it clear that non-defense, non-security federal workers who are laid off will not be paid. If there is no consequence for shutting down the government, then Democrats will continue extorting Republicans on every continuing resolution that comes up throughout the entire Trump administration.”
Trump’s promises from repealing Obamacare to building the wall will always face just as much rejection from Democrats this week as they will next, so Trump and Congressional Republicans need to make it clear they will not continue backing down as they have been.
Republicans even came shockingly close to proposing a new Obamacare reform bill last week, but despite only needing to sway one more Republican into approval, Republicans decided to delay the vote when Schumer threatened a shutdown on the continuing resolution.
This makes the only things Congress has successfully passed are issues such as Congressional Review Act regulation rescissions and the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch; both of which only required a simple, 51 vote majority to pass in the Senate.
The nomination of Justice Gorsuch was only possible because the Senate Republicans voted to remove the filibuster from Supreme Court nominees, allowing them to move forward with a simple majority.
If Republicans and President Trump want to move forward on their promised legislative agenda, Obamacare reform, building the wall, defense funding, defunding planned parenthood, and tax reform must be on the table next week.
Whether it means removing the filibuster on continuing resolutions or simply letting the government shut down, Republicans must show Chuck Schumer what it means to be the minority in Congress. President Trump and the GOP made promises to the American people, now they must follow through or their power will truly just be an illusion.
At some point, keeping the government open will be the only thing accomplished at the rate we are going.
R Mall
“Trump did obtain $1.5 billion for border security measures such as additional detention beds. ” **************
This is a “win” for “border security”???? Taxpayers get to pay for some more “detention beds”?!? Are you kidding? This “border security” measure’s primary purpose seems to be to assure migrants illegally crossing the border that they will not be discomforted while they are waiting to be shipped out to communities around the country so they can join ‘relatives’ and “welcoming” church ‘social justice’ groups.
Boy! I’ll bet that was a cliffhanger due to fears that the Democrats would reject this hard-nosed ‘border security’ measure and thus force the GOP to shut down the government.
Hurray for Paul Ryan…he drives a tough bargain!
Exactly how many resolutions “repealing and replacing O’Care” and defunding Planned Infant Destruction did the GOP caucus pass when veto by a Democratic president was a certainty? (“we can’t get these done unless we have a Republican president who will sign them into law!”)
And “sanctuary cities”? What’s that?
Question: What is worse than a leftist Democrat dictatorship?
Answer: A Republican party who supports one but campaigns like they won’t!