Nowadays are there only winners or losers. Compromise is a seldom an option in politics. That is not how our government did work. Does the government shutdown legislation passed by the US Senate provide for compromise or simply winners and losers? When the government is closed for most of the people’s business, there are only losers.
The supporters in the Senate claimed reopening the government, circumventing the filibuster; under the terms of the deal, agencies and programs will be funded through January (and in some cases beyond), laid-off federal workers will be reinstated, and the Obamacare subsidies will come up for a separate vote next month, but its success is far from guaranteed. SNAP benefits should begin flowing. Airlines should be cancelling fewer flights particularly during this holiday season. The House of Representatives will reconvene, or have they shown us we do not need them?
No president has ever during any government shutdown used SNAP, Food Stamps, as a negotiating tool. This is about as cruel as it can get. Have we lost our sense of moral decency, caring for our neighbors, helping others?
Was this a defeat, a capitulation by the Democrats, or a trap for the Republicans to fall into. This vote was not about the text of the bill; it was about timing the consequences in the mind of Sen. Dick Durbin. Durbin, who is retiring at the end of his term, was one of the “safe” Democrats voting to end the shutdown. As one of the last institutional Democrats his attitude is: “win the war simultaneously by losing the battle you’re meant to lose.” These Democrats voted to reopen the government while placing the next public outrage into the Republicans lap. These leaders were the ones selected to lead. It was well played under the circumstances to get our government back on track.
These were not rebels breaking with leadership — they were the leadership’s chosen instruments. The vote was not a breakdown, it was choreography. The key is the deal promised a vote in December on the affordable care act subsidies. This allowed the government to reopen leaving the subsidies unresolved. When premiums spike, hospitals shutter, enrollment collapses the Republicans must decide as a stand-alone issue to let the subsidies expire. No so called “big, beautiful bill” to use for cover. The ACA subsidies expire in January unless extended. Republicans saw this as their leverage. Durbin flipped it: reopen, shift blame, then let the collapse occur on the GOP’s watch. When Americans see their premium increases in January the Democrats can claim “We voted to reopen; they let your coverage collapse.” When the impact of the increased costs of healthcare hits next year, who will the people blame? It should land squarely on the Republicans. If this is a victory, and the Republicans are exposed and standing by themselves facing every angry voter, their vote should be based on self preservation not the wishes of Trump.
Phil's Personal Perspectives 