As the deadline for passing a dozen spending bills draws nearer, several members of the Republican Party- specifically members of the right wing group, the Tea Party- have expressed their interest in allowing the government to shutdown (again), in order to take a stand against Democratic Congressmen and their support of government funding for Planned Parenthood. Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, amongst other leaders of the Republican Party, fear for the party's reputation should a second shutdown occur, but members of the Tea Party-led by 2016 Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz- have claimed that they would prefer to shut down the government then support any bill that would support Planned Parenthood. In order to keep the government from shutting down, Congress will have to either pass 12 spending bills by September 30 or pass an extension. Though at the current moment it seems unlikely that the spending bills will pass on time, Speaker Boehner- who's job may be on the line- seems fairly adamant about keeping the government running.
The thought of a government shutdown really plays into the idea of Two Congresses because, as many Republican Congressmen will be up for re-election in 2016, they must consider what effect a government shutdown could have on their party's standing amongst the American people and, consequently, on their own standing amongst their constituents.
The last government shutdown cost approximately $2 billion and 6.6 million days worth of government work. Plus, having a shutdown government does not do wonders for American moral, and would likely lead to decreases in already low Congressional approval ratings. Being a member of a shutdown Congress could effect the constituents' perception of their Congressmen, especially their House Representatives, since they tend to be seen as closer to the people. If the government were to shut down again at the end of the month, Congressmen who are up for re-election in 2016- especially those who are members of the GOP- will have to find ways to either justify Congress' actions or, do as many others have done, and play the blame game.
Sources:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/09/08/why-the-gop-should-avoid-a-government-shutdown-over-planned-parenthood/
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/congress-returns/404149/
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/shutdown-deadline-looms-congress-returns-work
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-mark-pocan/congress-has-become-ameri_b_8118736.html
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/congress-hurtles-toward-government-shutdown.html#
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/us/politics/white-house-puts-price-on-government-shutdown.html?_r=0
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/10/politics/john-boehner-shutdown-planned-parenthood/
1 comment:
It's interesting how the Republicans have really taken up arms in this push to defund Planned Parenthood, especially to go as far as to threaten a government shutdown. I think an important question to ask is why. Why have Republicans recently added defunding Planned Parenthood tho their agenda? Is is because the Congressmen, themselves, are so repulsed by these videos they keep referencing? Or do they wish to label the Democrats in Congress as heartless for trying to continue normal funding even after these videos have been released? Whatever the reason be, the Republicans who are taking such strong stances (such as members of the House Freedom Caucus) will most likely take the blame for a government shutdown, if there is one. This won't shine too favorably on them during the 2016 elections, and may even cause some of them to lose their seats in their respective chambers, and may even bring about a decrease, or loss, in the current Republican margin of control.
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