Los Angeles Times
By Christina Bellatoni
January 22, 2018
Blame is a tricky thing. And once a political event passes, blame gets shorthanded. With 287 days until voters decide if they want to return Republicans to control in Washington, there’s no way to tell if the two-days-and-counting federal government shutdown will motivate people for either party.
We’ll have a sense by 9 a.m. Pacific if the shutdown will stretch into the workweek, or if lawmakers will delay the fight by funding the government through Feb. 8. Our Washington bureau will be tracking the drama, and covering the shutdown showdown in real time on Essential Washington.
Senate leaders spent Sunday attempting to forge a deal to reopen the government, and there was no shortage of blame.
Sunday’s setback of failing to come to an agreement came despite intense negotiations on Capitol Hill as congressional leaders in both parties searched for an exit ramp. Moderate Republicans and Democrats appeared to rally behind a short-term funding proposal, and the White House signaled possible flexibility on “Dreamers.” Ultimately, they punted to Monday.
But here’s why the blame game is complicated. The failed vote that forced the shut down was not along straight party lines. Five Democrats — four of them who have tough reelection races this fall, and Doug Jones, elected in a surprise special election in Alabama last year — voted “Yes.” Five Republicans joined the rest of the Democrats, including California’s two senators, Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, in voting “No.” (Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell voted against the funding bill as a procedural maneuver.)
So is it fair to blame Senate Democrats for the shutdown? Republicans, of course, quickly labeled it the #SchumerShutdown. Democrats say it’s the GOP’s fault because President Trump has been all over the place on the issue of immigration and with whom he wants to make deals. Not to mention the failed vote was thanks also to Republicans not having the entire caucus’ backing.
Even Sen. Ted Cruz, who took much of the blame for the 17-day shutdown in 2013 over the Affordable Care Act, blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
If the White House statement calling Democrats “obstructionist losers” doesn’t say it all, the spat between Feinstein and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy might just sum it up.
Should there be a deal, a successful Senate vote would shift the drama to the House, and there’s no telling how negotiations will go if there’s any sort of Dream Act provision included.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has been calling it the “Trump Shutdown.” But she’s also cut deals with the president before.
That’s all to say, buckle up. It’s bound to be an interesting few days.
CLOSED FOR BUSINESS
“We are going to manage this shutdown differently,” said Mick Mulvaney, the White House budget director. He accused President Obama of using the 2013 budget stalemate to score political points, making the repercussions more painful for Americans than necessary.
Here’s what a shutdown might look like for tourists and more than 700,000 government employees.
And here’s a primer on the government functions that won’t change.
Speaking to U.S. troops involved in bombing Islamic State militants in Syria, Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday launched a broadside at Democrats over the government shutdown, accusing the opposition party of “playing politics with military pay.”
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
No comments:
Post a Comment