Friday, September 20, 2013

Third Act in Defunding Drama? Boehner's

Andy McCarthy gets it.

...When it comes to spending, Congress has primacy, and pride of place rests with the House (the one-half of one-third Republicans control) because the Constitution mandates that spending bills originate in the lower chamber – the one closest to the people. Equally important, the hard jobs in government are the ones where an officeholder has to do something. It is a lot easier when all that’s necessary is to refuse to act. Spending requires a positive act by Congress – not a thin dime may be spent unless Congress approves. That is, there can be no spending on Obamacare unless Congress votes to approve it. Thus, the one-half-of-one-third crowd is in the driver’s seat. All they need to do is say, “No.” It is President Obama who needs action here – congressional Republicans need only decline to act.

And by the way, if Republicans do act, if they vote to fund Obamacare, then they are for Obamacare. Don’t let them fool you with meaningless “repeal” votes. Repeal – i.e., changing the law – is a positive act; unlike refusing to spend money, it cannot be accomplished simply by saying no. Just as President Obama needs Republicans to get his spending, Republicans would need the president (or substantial cooperation from congressional Democrats) to get their repeal. This, we all know, they will never get – there will be no repeal until an election or two drastically changes the landscape. But spending is another story – and President Obama should be made to understand that it is just as hopeless to get Republican assent to spending on Obamacare as Republicans understand it is hopeless to get Obama’s assent on repeal....

Like everyone else, I expect that the de-funding will fail in the Senate.  (There could be a miracle, but...)

So on to Act III, Scene I:  (A possibility)

Obama demands money.  Boehner says 'you got all you need--just get Harry out of his stupor, have it passed in the Senate, and voila!  budget money!!'

Obozo refuses to motivate Reid (or maybe to pick him up off the floor of the hotel.)

Boehner has to decide:  recess the House, or vote FOR ObozoCare.

Decisions, decisions, they're so hard. 

In the alternative, McCarthy's Act III, Scene I (a possibility)

Obozo demands money.  Boehner says 'you got all you need---just get Harry out of his stupor, have it passed in the Senate, and voila!! budget money!!'

Obozo decides to pick Harry up off the floor of his suite at the hotel and tells Harry to pass the CR as is.

Not a hard decision at all.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Spending requires a positive act by Congress – not a thin dime may be spent unless Congress approves. That is, there can be no spending on Obamacare unless Congress votes to approve it."

Well gosh darn it! They DID approve it. In 2010. Most of Obamacare funding is mandatory spending not subject to a continuing resolution.

Sorry about that. #defundingfail

Billiam said...

Anon, as we've seen, time and again, O only enforces Laws that HE likes/wants. So, that tells us that a law may not really be a law. So, going by Barry's rules, is it really mandatory?

Anonymous said...

Bill,

I guess you weren't alive when W included signing statements on many of the bills he signed into law.

I think the president will enforce this one.

Billiam said...

I disagreed with Bush doing that as well. It's amazing what folks are ok with when it's 'their guy', isn't it?

Anonymous said...

What laws are Obama not enforcing?

Anonymous said...

It's an obscure law prohibiting orangutans from impersonating humans.