I am seriously sick of Johnson’s charades. Let’s discuss his latest scheme.
Republicans Float Novel Plan to Avert Government Shutdown
The Wall Street Journal reports Republicans Float Novel Plan to Avert Government Shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) planned to huddle with rank-and-file GOP members on Friday to lay out a plan to avert a government shutdown at midnight, while reopening communications with Democrats still steaming after the collapse of a bipartisan deal.
Discussions in the GOP focused on holding separate votes on different portions of the package, rather than one catchall bill. Two people familiar with the party’s thinking said the votes would likely be divided into three sections: funding federal agencies for three months; providing disaster relief; and aiding farmers.
Under the approach, lawmakers would pledge to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending next year, but not vote on it now. President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that lawmakers vote to raise the borrowing cap before he takes office.
Pledge to Reduce Spending Later
What?!!
Yes, that will surely work, like all past such pledges worked.
And to get there we need to divide and conquer.
Mish Synopsis of Johnson’s Divide and Conquer Deficit Plan
- Take a deficit pie
- Cut the pie into three pieces
- Pretend the sum of the pieces will shrink the deficit at some magical point in the future on a pledge to eat the pie now and pay for it later.
The Correct Response
The correct response to this silliness is twofold.
- Remove Johnson as Speaker right now
- Go home for Christmas
There is no need to pick a new speaker today. And there is no pressing need to avoid a shutdown either.
Dear Congress, Please Shut Down
I repeat: Dear Congress, Please Shut Down, There’s No Need to Address the Budget this Year
The Government can survive until at least March and possibly May.
This is the first time in 6 years Republicans have had the chance to play hardball. So don’t F it up.
By the way, if this latest bit of asininity succeeds, blame Trump, no one else. Trump could stop this cold right now if he just would come out and say “Merry Christmas, Go Home.”