HOLY SHIT!!!! Increasing concerns GOP will shut down entire fed govt to stop health care reform

[FourScore]

Increasing concerns GOP will shut down entire fed govt to stop health care reform
by John Aravosis (DC) on 1/20/2011 07:50:00 PM

The President better have some big cojones, because that's exactly what the Republicans will do. They'll take hostages. And as we know, the President's track record on negotiating with hostage-takers is not good. First Sam Stein at HuffPost, then I'll explain what Sam is talking about:

Congressional Democrats expressed a rare touch of nonchalance Wednesday as House Republicans voted to repeal last year's health care overhaul, since the repeal has little chance of passing the Senate. Behind the scenes, however, fears are mounting over what appears to be a more serious threat.

Democratic lawmakers tell The Huffington Post that they increasingly expect Republicans to try and freeze funding for the health care law. Such an attempt would face the same institutional hurdles as a straight repeal vote: a non-compliant Senate and a president wielding a veto pen. But whereas the repeal bill's death would mean -- in practical political terms -- absolutely nothing, the inability to pass an appropriations bill could have far-reaching effects.

"They are potentially setting up a situation where they will bring government, all of government, to a screeching halt," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said Wednesday. "Not because of the debt ceiling. This is beyond the debt ceiling ... If they think they are going to have the end game of their appropriations bills be that they drive health care reform into an early grave ... they are literally setting up a full stop for almost everything we will possibly do this year."

The government is funded via a series of 12 (or so, it's been changing every few years) appropriations bills. One appropriations bill is for the Defense department. Another is for is for the State Department and foreign aid. Another funds the Labor Department, the Dept of HHS, and the Dept of Education. You get the idea. If the appropriations bills don't pass, those agencies don't get their money for the year (unless congress passes a continuing resolution continuing that basically continues funding the govt on a temporary basis at last year's levels).

Now, what could/would the GOP do? They House Republicans could add language to every appropriations bill repealing health care reform. If the Senate Democrats strip the legislation from the Senate version of the bill, the House Republicans could refuse to vote for the final joint House-Senate bill unless and until the health care repeal is included back in. In the meantime, the government won't be funded, and will run out of money next October 1st, when the current fiscal year runs out.

And it's actually worse than that. Because the appropriations bills didn't get passed last year, the federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution. But rather than pass a continuing resolution that takes us until the end of this fiscal year, the end of September, the current continuing resolution only takes us until March 4. The Republicans could demand that the continuing resolution contain a health care reform repeal.

And I just googled it, and what do you know, that's exactly what some Republicans are demanding:

A caucus of conservative Republicans unveiled a proposal on Thursday that would trim federal spending by $2.5 trillion over 10 years...

MORE AT: http://www.americablog.com/2011/01/increasing-concerns-gop-will-shut-down.html

[JVS]

1. I really hate their policies, but I wish our party's leaders were so good at procedure.

We'd have gotten single payer long ago.

[tekisui]

12. Yep. In just a few weeks, the repukes are throwing wrenches in it all.

And they only have a majority in one house.

Dems had majorities in both houses and the WH for two years and never showed such gumption.

[RKP5637]

17. Excellent point! Sometimes power is not in how much you have, but in

how you play what you've got. n/t

[DCBob]

39. Its easy to "throw wrenches"..

any idiot can destroy something.. the Democrats were trying to create.

[tekisui]

43. The question is of effectiveness.

Repukes know how to play hard and get what they want. Dems, not so much. The Dems weren't effective when in the minority either.

[DCBob]

48. Its also a question of cutt-throat ruthlessness.. GOPers have it.. most Democrats dont.

and we should all be glad they dont.

[tekisui]

49. Should we?

I disagree. I would welcome it, if it resulted meaningful and effective legislation.

[DCBob]

51. I agree, perhaps, but that's a very big "if"...

and impossible know the answer to that before heading down that path.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

31. IT SEEMS THAT I GET MORE ENRAGED EVERY HOUR

THESE REPUBS ARE THE KIDS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEATEN UP IN ABOUT THE SIXTH GRADE.

THEY WILL CRAP ON ANYONE TO GET THEIR WAY.

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[no_hypocrisy]

2. If the Republicans really want to forfeit 2012 wholesale, let'em have their chance.

[GoCubsGo]

52. Yep. And, they should go all the way.

Shut it ALL down, not just allegedly "non-essential" government. No pussy-footing around. Don't just shut down the National Zoo and the NEA office. Shut down the Social Security and Medicare offices, air traffic control, NIH and CDC research, the VA and its associated hospitals, the Border Patrol, the Defense Department, the FBI, the CIA, the USPS, all of it, you bloody-ass crybabies. Prove your assertion that government is a bad thing. Go for it! Please!

[CTyankee]

54. Newt Gingrich and his band of muggers in the House tried this back in the Clinton

admin. See where it got them...and the same thing will happen to this band of muggers. The people will REVOLT.

BEEG mistake by the pukes...again!

[GoCubsGo]

56. Newt only shut down the "non-essential" government.

He didn't have the balls to shut it all down. But, yeah, I remember how it came back around and bit him in the ass.

[CTyankee]

58. Yeah, so if this is SO MUCH more worse than what Newt did, you can only imagine

what willhappen as a result. It takes the word "extremist" to a whole new level...

I honestly don't see how this can result in anything good, andmost likely it will be nearly fatal, to the Republican Party.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Ah this is how the empire collapses

and the irony is... they don't even realize it.

[RKP5637]

19. With the country so unstable in many ways, this could be the tipping point, playing

with fire.

[obxhead]

29. I think they see it as

an acceptable level of collapse or failure.

I've been thinking that for some time on many of the policy decisions from both sides over the last 3 decades. In so many ways we have long passed the point of no return and now they are simply preparing for the failure. At this point both sides are only doing damage control (for their money) for themselves and their friends as the system fails.

[HillbillyBob]

4. Well we expect them to Not do the JOB and shut down

and or hold their breath to get what they want (in an appropriately whiny ass voice).
1994...

[Mojambo]

5. They couldn't give the Democrats a bigger gift. n/t

[thotzRthingz]

6. "GOP will shut down entire fed govt" (let them -- talk about yer suicidal pacts / pacs)! ;-)

[struggle4progress]

7. I think I'll just sit back with a bored expression on my face and

These guys may think they're cowboys, but just wait -- they're going shoot themselves in the knees pretending they know how to do fancy tricks

[Arkana]

8. Yeah, that'll go well for them.

Almost as well as the last government shutdown.

[Kablooie]

33. It will, because the Dems always take the blame for them.

The Dems are never able to put the blame where it belongs but take it on themselves.
And they are so terrified of the GOP that they will cave quickly.

I think the GOP may actually succeed and the Dems will help them all the way.

[Arkana]

37. Pretty sure that's not what happened last time.

And if they shut down the government because of health care, there isn't a spinmeister in the world that will help them--it'll spin itself.

Some things still do that.

[leftynyc]

44. Were you not around the last time?

The stunt got Pres Clinton re-elected and we gained seats in an off year election so I'm not sure what you're rambling about.

[Kablooie]

55. I'm thinking more of the recent filibustering and the Bush years.

But I concede that I may have just been in a gloomy mood last night and so spouted off a little too vehemently.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Let 'em go for it.

They'll get their asses whipped good and proper in 2012.

[riderinthestorm]

10. Can the Dems re-configure the funding so Congresspeople don't get their paycheck?

I mean, all of these Congresspeople are fucking rich, they should be able to sustain a month or two without "pay" (the "pittance" that it is, since most of these fat cats get their money elsewhere). The Dems need to play hardball and hit the Rethugs in their own wallet. Just de-fund Congress and see what happens. Surely we can figure out when THEIR funding bill comes up for a vote and lobby hard against that.

[RKP5637]

15. Yeah, that was one of the first thoughts that came to my mind, I would love to

see Congresspeople paychecks de-funded.

[spanone]

11. it didn't work in the 90's, won't work now

[RagAss]

13. What government?

[Angry Dragon]

14. Let them

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. I double dog dare them

[Odin2005]

18. Let them try.

[Dappleganger]

20. The Do-Nothings...

brought to you by the Party of No.

[TheCowsCameHome]

21. And that is different how?

The GOP does nothing but take up space anyway.

[bluestateguy]

22. Yeah, well just remember that their government agencies can be defunded too

As in, no health care money, no Pentagon budget.

[PufPuf23]

23. Reagan as governor and POTUS attacked and demonized crown jewels

of government.

The tax structure and political strategy of those that support the ever more international economic monarchists are by far the biggest threat to national security and health and welfare of Americans.

[GReedDiamond]

24. "Republicans," as we still call them, do not want to govern...

...because they have no interest in governing, and they know (deep down inside?) that they are, in fact, incapable of governing.

They would rather got to cocktail parties with their "friends" and corpoRATe cronies.

[lonestarnot]

25. So aren't they about destroying the US anyway, destroy government, destroy the little people,

destroy the old people, destroy the sick people and destroy the kids and their future kids?

[patricia92243]

26. They did this when Clinton was prez. It backfired on them - big time. Don't think they will try

that little trick again.

[Old and In the Way]

27. There are moments when you have to call their bluff...this is one of them.

Obama was supposed to be a pretty good poker player back in his days as a Illinois legislator. If so, I think he needs to go "all in" on this one. Bring it to a head annd let it play out. We can't let these thugs get away with their empty threats. Repealing healthcare will hurt the consumer, the economy, and balloon the deficit. Republicans are on the wrong side of issue here and they are overplaying their hand. Call 'em on it.

[jwirr]

28. They had better look at the timing! People without help can freeze

in the winter. Talk about death panels.

[Lifelong Protester]

30. Bring it,

I TRIPLE dog-dare them.

[Kablooie]

32. If they try they are sure to succeed because Dems will fold quickly.

The Dems are so knock-kneed scared of being blamed that they will do anything the GOP wants, even though the Repubs are totally to blame.

[jtown1123]

41. One think I am thankful for is Obama's staff chock full of Clinton-ites

this means he'll probably call their bluff like Clinton did...I can hope.

[Kablooie]

34. Like little kids they stamp their feet and threaten to hold their breath.

And this always terrifies the Democrats and they give the GOP whatever it wants.

The GOP has never had the opportunity to shut down the government because the Dems always give in long before the threat is enacted.

Extortion is a great tool when working the a Democratic congress.

[leftynyc]

47. WHAT are you babbling about?

This happened in the 90s and the pubs caved almost immediately. They got the TOTAL blame for it. Are you sure you're talking about the US?

[Agony]

35. Oh! the Republicants

[The Second Stone]

36. Clinton faced them down in 96

He had only one person to keep in line, himself. The Republicans have to keep all of their people in line. Yes, the Republicans will shut down the government for days or weeks. And then it will be over.

[jtown1123]

40. I give them a few hours. They don't want to piss off their Wall St. buddies...ain't gonna happen

[The Second Stone]

60. They are too damn stupid to know that Wall Street owns their

asses and it may take days for that to occur to them.

[Supply Side Jesus]

38. HOLY SHIT!!!!

:hurts:

[PBS Poll-435]

42. I am looking forward to any immature attempt they make

It won't work.


And they will look like dicks.

[NNN0LHI]

45. We sure showed them blue dogs didn't we?

[justiceischeap]

46. Apparently (R)s haven't been paying attention to polls outside of the Tea Party

People are not in favor of health care repeal, reform to go further yes but not repeal. Let them shut down the government, it will sink them in 2012.

[barbiegeek]

50. SHUT IT DOWN, WE'RE AT WAR REPUGS WOULD BE SCREWED

Let them shut down Military Pay, the War, close the VA hospitals, no bond payments, no social security checks, no medicare. SHUT IT DOWN the Public will be OUTRAGED.

Call your congress people and tell them to Dare those Jerks

[GoCubsGo]

53. YES!!!

They say government is bad, well, let 'em prove it. Let everyone have the chance to see how they "don't need government". But, something tells me they don't have the balls to shut down anything other than parks, museums and other non-obvious functions.

[WolverineDG]

57. It worked out so well for them the first time,

so why not? :crazy:

dg

[Puzzler]

59. When the insurance companies are at stake, the country is worth sacrificing

The GOP are true patriots (sarcasm)

[cbdo2007]

61. Cool, just put health care spending in the Defense bill.

seems easy enough