Yet another spending bill is due in Congress, and the clock is ticking.
Democrats are playing their usual games, but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is hoping to avoid roadblocks by putting a “clean” bill on the floor.
The opposition party has other ideas, however, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) seem intent on allowing a government shutdown.
In March, Schumer vowed that he would not allow the government to be shut down, saying it would do more harm than good.
Now, he is grandstanding, trying to get the GOP to cave on Democrats' healthcare demands if they want to see the government funding bill passed.
This bill literally has nothing to do with healthcare, but Democrats want to fill it with amendments in order to force through their agenda.
And while Schumer vowed last time around not to shut down the government, he now says that “things have changed," suggesting that he and Jeffries are prepared to hold the line.
It has been several days since Schumer’s first statement, but now he and Jeffries are joined at the hip in their approach.
They declared, “The House Republican-only spending bill fails to meet the needs of the American people and does nothing to stop the looming healthcare crisis.”
Their statement continued, “At a time when families are already being squeezed by higher costs, Republicans refuse to stop Americans from facing double-digit hikes in their health insurance premiums.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is already working the narrative that if there is a shutdown, it will be on Dems, stating, “I’m sure you’re all asking the question, are we or are we not going to have a Schumer shutdown? And it sounds like, from what he is indicating, that very well may happen.”
The only way this bill has a chance to get through is if it takes the form of what is called a “clean bill,” meaning that it contains no amendments and no landmines.
From a strategic perspective, this is Johnson's best and only move. If he presents a clean bill, and Democrats try to add amendments and subsequently shut down the government like petulant children, they have to own the outcome.
Johnson stated, “I don’t think that’s going to work. If the government is shut down because they make that their last stand, it will solely be blamed on Democrats.”
I have not discussed legislation much in this particular publication, but my regular readers know that I think every bill should be clean and only address a single spending issue. I want the American people to see exactly what is being passed, not subjected to 2,000-page bills with spending details that nobody uncovers until weeks or months, sometimes even years, later. Put the bill on the floor, Mr. Speaker, and let the chips fall where they may.
