Thursday, September 12, 2013

A government shutdown just became a bit more likely. That might be a good thing.

Ezra Klein explains A government shutdown just became a bit more likely. That might be a good thing. It's an utter mess. Read the whole thing, it's short, but some examples:

"2) The GOP’s small Obamacare problem. The vote was delayed because the House GOP can’t decide on what to do about Obamacare. Hardcore conservatives want to refuse to fund the government as  long as any of that funding goes to Obamacare — which is to say, they want to shut down the government over Obamacare. This is a fight that House leadership believes they will lose, and lose very badly.

So Team Boehner tried to finesse it. The funding bill required a vote on defunding Obamacare. But House conservatives quickly realized that they would lose the vote in the Senate and the result would be the federal government would get funded, and Obamacare would be funded along with it. So they turned on the bill, and, fearing for its passage, House leadership delayed the vote."

"Meanwhile, time is running short. As Jonathan Chait writes, “a bill needs to pass by September 30, and Congress has a rigorous vacation schedule to adhere to, giving it precious little time to accomplish the goal of not shutting down the government.”"

"Meanwhile, time is running short. As Jonathan Chait writes, “a bill needs to pass by September 30, and Congress has a rigorous vacation schedule to adhere to, giving it precious little time to accomplish the goal of not shutting down the government.”"

No comments: