Hey Republican House Members: If the Government Slowdown Bothers You, Why Not Fund What You Like?
It is now clear that a government slowdown is inevitable. (Reminder: it’s a slowdown, not a shutdown.)
Barack Obama took to the podium to complain about things that won’t get funded. He says: ““One faction of one party in one house of Congress in one branch of government doesn’t get to shut down the entire government just to re-fight the results of an election.”
Well, perhaps not. But we do hold the purse strings, Mr. President, and that too is the result of an election.
So, House Members, embrace the power to do what Barack Obama says you don’t “get to” do — namely, to decide to initiate spending. For those purposes you decide are appropriate.
If you’re worried about a specific program or department not being funded — and if you’re worried about taking blame for that program getting defunded — then here’s an idea: draft a bill to fund that program or department.
For example, the House certainly didn’t want to be branded as keeping soldiers from getting paid. So guess what? They passed a bill to pay soldiers. The Senate has already passed it. Boom. Problem solved. You won’t get blamed for soldiers not getting paid.
So: if there’s anything else you think should be funded, fund it. Think national parks should be operating? OK. Draft a bill. If it’s a very popular program or department, the Senate will pass your bill.
NPR may not get funded. The Department of Education may not get funded. For a while, anyway.
Would that really be so bad?
But instead of quivering in your boots about the public being mad about a government slowdown, figure out exactly what the public wants to keep going, see if that program or department deserves it, and then fund it.
And if it doesn’t deserve it? Then don’t.
And hold fast.
Think of these bills as pressure valves. You let loose a little of the pressure built up by the haunting and very very scary prospect of a government slowdown, and then . . . wait.
Maybe, just maybe, Barack Obama will figure out that you do “get to” fulfill your constitutional role, as the body that initiates spending, after all.
Ding.
Patterico (9c670f) — 9/30/2013 @ 5:46 pmTell you what, just to be safe, lets unfund the whole monty and then piecemeal bring the pieces online we really find we can not do without.
gary gulrud (dd7d4e) — 9/30/2013 @ 5:53 pmActually, I don’t know why they don’t use this strategy. Every voter in every state and district will be able to see clearly what is important to their elected representatives. Then they could vote accordingly. Heck, the Dems might even come out ahead.
Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 9/30/2013 @ 5:54 pmCan we defund the Obama vacations ?
Elephant Stone (6a6f37) — 9/30/2013 @ 5:55 pmBetter yet, can we send them to Tahiti, and then cut off the expenses to bring them back ?
For example, the House certainly didn’t want to be branded as keeping soldiers from getting paid. So guess what? They passed a bill to pay soldiers. The Senate has already passed it. <
They did???
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/325557-senate-passes-bill-ensuring-military-pay-during-shutdown
So Harry Reid doesn't have all the cards. I guess the Republicans got their message out about this.
Sammy Finkelman (c8f489) — 9/30/2013 @ 5:56 pmThey may get paid but if the shutdown lasts more than a week they will see a delay in pay. Leadership has been reminding them of what agencies they can apply for financial help.
vor2 (c9733f) — 9/30/2013 @ 6:21 pmNo, the military will get paid, because, while you weren’t watching, the Senate passed H.R. 3210 this afternoon:
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/325557-senate-passes-bill-ensuring-military-pay-during-shutdown
It appropriates funds to pay the military at any time in 2014 when other appropriations are not in effect.
Civilian personnel and contractors that the Defense Department deems to be helping the military are also included.
Sammy Finkelman (c8f489) — 9/30/2013 @ 6:26 pmThat’s Fiscal 2014 – October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014.
Sammy Finkelman (c8f489) — 9/30/2013 @ 6:27 pmLet’s see if I can find where the Constitution contains the right to salary and health care.
If you wish it so, then you may really need to stop and ask what you are wishing for.
Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 9/30/2013 @ 6:40 pmNext the GOP moderates will say if we shutdown, we’ll be blamed for the economy tanking. Oh, wait..
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-30/q3-earnings-warnings-worst-2001
gary gulrud (dd7d4e) — 9/30/2013 @ 6:54 pmConsider the source:
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2013/09/just-peachy-boehner-and-company.html
Well, at least we don’t have long to wait. If they pull this and then drag out an Amnesty bill to vote, both put over the top in a bipartisan Ode to Joy then Boehner is done as Speaker and possibly out November ’14.
gary gulrud (dd7d4e) — 9/30/2013 @ 7:02 pmThis would be a really great idea, and they would have done it if they wanted to. But instead, the eGOP is scheming about how to stealthily implement Obamacare and amnesty and grow the government while pretending that they want to do otherwise.
If anyone really wanted to fix problems they wouldn’t be doing what they are doing.
This is not going to be fixed in Washington, DC. It is not going to be fixed at the federal ballot box. The States are going to have to exercise the power of the 9th and 10th amendments and the power of a convention to rein in the central government. But they don’t have the will to do so yet. Perhaps they never will.
Alas, who will be left to place the headstone on the grave of the Republic…
WarEagle82 (2b7355) — 9/30/2013 @ 7:13 pmObviously, the WH is not an essential segment of government, so keep it closed not only to the tourists, but to the little reichsfuhrers that work there (are you listening Dan Pfeiffer, Jan Carney?).
askeptic (2bb434) — 9/30/2013 @ 7:48 pmOops…..JAY Carney!
askeptic (2bb434) — 9/30/2013 @ 7:50 pmhe’s got to be the whiniest president ever in my whole life
happyfeet (c60db2) — 9/30/2013 @ 9:06 pmThe Department of Education has now turned into a pumpkin. Temporarily.
Sammy Finkelman (8423d6) — 9/30/2013 @ 9:11 pmthat’s not just seasonally appropriate it’s whimsically festive
they already have the tasty punkin lattes at starbucks but I can’t have none cause of a.) they got way too many calories and b.) i refuse to subsidize failifornia’s minimum wage utopia
happyfeet (c60db2) — 9/30/2013 @ 9:19 pmbut you go ahead
happyfeet (8ce051) — 9/30/2013 @ 9:40 pmhttps://twitter.com/Jeff_Jacoby/status/384709857158258689
”
Those IRS agents who target conservative groups for abusive scrutiny: In a govt shutdown, are they deemed essential or nonessential?”- Jeff Jacoby
Michael Ejercito (b371e1) — 9/30/2013 @ 9:46 pmThis is a brilliant plan, which I have also been thinking about (though not as clearly as Patterico).
For once, let’s stop playing defense with these idiots.
We can fund the government one little bit at a time, and dare the Stalinist branch of the Democrat party to vote it down seriatum.
In a few short months, the government will resemble that which Ronald Reagan only could have dreamed of.
They will be helpless to avoid the train wreck of the progressive cause.
orcadrvr (2977be) — 9/30/2013 @ 9:54 pmHow does that help? The bill will then go to the senate who will amend it to fund the entire government, pass it, and send it back to the house. The only reason the military bill passed is because it lets the dems neutralize any arguments that they are weak on defense (probably the only argument related to the shutdown the right might actually win).
Tlaloc (d061fc) — 9/30/2013 @ 10:03 pmI love this idea. Fund what you believe is important. Thomas Sowell once said:
If we only fund what’s important, then we don’t have to fund Benedict Arnold statues and fund what’s important like, life-saving medications to children. Who would object to that?
I’d like to see congress not fund the US Department of Education. It was created by the Department of Education Organization Act (Public Law 96-88) and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on October 17, 1979 and began operating on May 4, 1980.
We didn’t need the US Department of Education for over 200 years and I don’t see why we need it now.
I see two benefits of this fund what we need approach.
1. If each funding bill is limited to one area, they hopefully can’t hide unnecessary funding like Benedict Arnold statues.
2. Congress will be so busy funding the government piece by piece, they hopefully won’t have time to create more laws.
Tanny O'Haley (ffc3bf) — 9/30/2013 @ 10:05 pm21. It has to be something that the Dems also don’t want to be held responsible for suspending.
More things than just the military can probably be carved out.
Sammy Finkelman (66a8bd) — 9/30/2013 @ 10:05 pmKill it in reconciliation, recreate the original funding bill and send it back to the senate, then take a page from the democrats and demonize them for adding in unnecessary funding for Benedict Arnold statues and not funding life-saving medications to children. “How could the democrats be so callous and why do the want to kill children?” It might work.
But with your logic, the senate could have funded the entire government including Obamacare with the military bill. Why didn’t they?
Tanny O'Haley (ffc3bf) — 9/30/2013 @ 10:17 pmWhich brings us right back to where we are now, so again, how does this help? The dems will blame the reps and the reps will blame the dems and, going by the polling, the public will blame the reps. Right where we are now.
Already addressed this above. They apparently regarded it as better to neutralize the national security issue rather than use it as leverage.
Tlaloc (d061fc) — 9/30/2013 @ 10:21 pmwell plus we have already have Putin’s assurance that we’re more or less secure as a nation
that’s good enough for me
happyfeet (8ce051) — 9/30/2013 @ 10:27 pmit’s not Putin’s fault he don’t like girls – he should rejoice and love himself today cause baby he was born this way
happyfeet (8ce051) — 9/30/2013 @ 10:31 pmThis is like following the commie fringe group. The good is the enemy of the perfect so damn the good! Perfection or nothing.
The Republicans won the house but got fewer votes than the dems. The credit goes to smart gerrymandering. Is that good for democracy? IS that going to help you in the long run? No.
The number of self-identified Republicans is getting smaller and smaller; the Republicans are going to get blamed for the mess and you’re standing proud.
You’re fighting battle to battle and losing the war. The country is moving on.
Obamacare aka Romneycare isn’t much, but its better than what we have now. Your 25 year old can still be covered by your insurance. Thanks Mitt. Thanks Barry
Required name (b5f718) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:00 pmthe country is “moving on” like one of those losers what can’t afford rent no more cause his crack whore girlfriend moved out and took her food stamps with her
happyfeet (8ce051) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:02 pmhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/30/us-employers-slash-hours-avoid-obamacare
Nonsense Required Name, Obamacare is worse. It kills jobs, fails to cover more people ( White House just halved their propaganda number of coveted without fanfare), raises premiums and fails to contain costs.
Utter disaster. And that is without counting the increased corruption it has introduced.
SPQR (768505) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:18 pmWhy on earth is a 25 year old man being treated as a boy?
Because they seek to control and foster dependency.
That’s the talking point of the day. I wonder how much of that is due to democrat cities and voter fraud. No wonder you guys freak out at Voter ID laws.
But the representatives of the people are the US House. They have passed a government that merely defunds Obamacare. The democrats have said that they will not permit the government if it doesn’t have this entitlement program. So be it.
Dustin (303dca) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:21 pmDustin, well Obama has deployed his secret weapon…. NSYNC is promoting Obamacare now.
Bwaahahaha.
SPQR (768505) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:23 pmPatterico is right that the election decided that the GOP has the power of the purse.
I like the vision he has for a newfound respect for this role. Why not do away with these Omnibus budgets forever?
Dustin (303dca) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:25 pmWake up and smell the coffee!
Why on earth would Reid allow “pressure valve” funding bills? He’s already declared the defense funding bill DOA, and nothing gets to a vote in the Senate if Reid says it doesn’t.
People act as if the public that is stupid enough to have elected Obama twice is suddenly going to wake up and realize their error and join us. Not going to happen, folks.
It becomes a contest of who is willing to see military families go the longest without their direct deposits, how long decent contractors go without pay, how long before their employees get paid, etc. Obama and Reid don’t care. They intend to win this fight no matter who gets hurt and how much.
How about you? How long?
Don’t hesitate, for God’s sake! This is the fundamental question you had to have decided before you embarked on supporting this course of action. You did think it over carefully, right?
Right?
Estragon (19fa04) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:26 pmHAHAHA!
Wow, SPQR. Now young NSYNC fans (they still exist) won’t notice that they are the ones getting screwed by Obamacare!
Dustin (303dca) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:26 pmConcern troll is concerned.
SPQR (768505) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:27 pmEstragon,
Patterico names an example where Reid DID allow one.
and if he doesn’t, then maybe there isn’t enough pressure. Maybe we don’t actually need that program if it’s not popular enough to force Reid to blink.
I’m totally OK with that.
Let Reid refuse.
Dustin (303dca) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:27 pmThe more I think about it the more I like this idea.
Someone whines that their immigration case has been held up, then the GOP can point to where they funded that specific thing and the democrats refused to vote on it. The democrats won’t straight up say that ‘we’re refusing that program if we can’t have Obamacare too’ but eventually that will become clear enough.
Dustin (303dca) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:33 pmComment by Estragon (19fa04) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:26 pm
He’s already declared the defense funding bill DOA,
If that’s what he said, reports of its death were greatly exaggerated. I know he said hat about the main bill, pushing back all the Obamacare starting dates and deadlines by one year.
Sammy Finkelman (66a8bd) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:46 pmIf the GOP takes a hit in public opinion I am OK with that. I just want obamacare shut down. Politics is a means to the ends. It is not the ends itself. That’s what the RINOs and moderates do not understand.
If you have compromised policy to this extent, you have screwed up the entire reason to have politics in the first place.
Debt at 16 trillion? An IRS that actively engages in fascism? An NSA spying on Americans? Romneycare spread to all 50 states?
It is worth a political price to stop these things. And the things are far too much price to pay to preserve political capital we weren’t going to use on anything worthwhile.
Dustin (303dca) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:52 pmComment by Required name (b5f718) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:00 pm
Our newest troll overlooks the Majority-Minority Districts that have been created to satisfy various civil-rights grievance groups which have now, with the results of GOP victories in state legislative races in 2010, allowed the GOP to ‘gerrymander’ districts for themselves.
askeptic (2bb434) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:52 pm…(edit)…”allowed the GOP to ‘gerrymander’ districts for themselves outside of those urban cores that comprise the Majority-Minority Districts.
askeptic (2bb434) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:53 pmIt’s amazing how Obama somehow managed to sign that ‘defense funding’ bill that Reid wouldn’t allow.
Icy (5ef62d) — 9/30/2013 @ 11:57 pmi don’t really wanna make it tough but our fascist whore congress they have spent enough
it might sound crazy but hey why ask why
no more buy buy buy
happyfeet (8ce051) — 10/1/2013 @ 12:01 amoh hey lookit
https://www.google.com/
the fascist obamasluts at google decided today was a super perfect day to celebrate national parks
happyfeet (8ce051) — 10/1/2013 @ 12:11 amWhy not just have a separate funding bill for national parks?
Michael Ejercito (b371e1) — 10/1/2013 @ 7:02 amUm, they already did that. In fact they even funded almost everything they don’t like — the entire government, good, bad, and indifferent, except 0bamacare. It’s the Senate and the President who’ve said if we can’t have every penny we demand then we refuse to accept anything at all.
As I’ve put it before, imagine a beggar demanding that you give him money for food and booze. You offer to pay for the most expensive dinner he can possibly order, but not for booze. He turns you down, says if he can’t have the booze he doesn’t want the food either. And then he claims you’re starving him!
Milhouse (602634) — 10/1/2013 @ 8:25 amSomeone please explain to me why the Republicans are not coming out on TV (like the dirtbag Democrats are) and telling the American public facts about why they’re doing this?
Owebamacare will crush the economy. It’s not ready. Democrats are busy flinging petty insults instead of getting to the fact that they haven’t passed a budget in 5 years and have FAILED to lead……
They both suck and have destroyed this nation.
© Sponge (8110ec) — 10/1/2013 @ 8:59 amToo logical.
Smock Puppet, Gadfy, Racist-Sexist Thug, and Bon Vivant All In One Package (afdedb) — 10/1/2013 @ 11:22 amThis was my favorite thing so far…
https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/996029_10153335313505173_967611806_n.jpg
Smock Puppet, Gadfy, Racist-Sexist Thug, and Bon Vivant All In One Package (afdedb) — 10/1/2013 @ 11:23 amIt appear they’re doing exactly what Patrick wants: passing individual bills to fund one program at a time. I suppose putting a call in to your representatives to support this effort might be in order, I dare say.
Chris (0ba377) — 10/1/2013 @ 12:37 pmhttp://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/government-shutdown-house-gop-to-democrats-negotiate-97639.html
Hey, why not have the non-military parts of government sell off their stockpiled ammunition to fund themselves???
PCD (7a7072) — 10/1/2013 @ 12:49 pmOops…..JAY Carney!
Comment by askeptic (2bb434) — 9/30/2013 @ 7:50 pm
Had it right with Jan the first time you did! Wants to get in touch with his feminine side he does! Surgery scheduled next week!
Yoda (ee1de0) — 10/1/2013 @ 11:00 pm