Since fall, Congress has twice delayed passing a budget by relying on short-term resolutions that continue funding government operations at last year’s levels. The most recent continuing resolution expires at midnight Friday. The hope was that a new budget could be approved by then.
Instead, it looks as if Congress will kick the can down the road at least one more time rather than risk defeat, forcing a government shutdown as in 2013.
Up until now, only a majority of votes has been necessary to pass measures such as tax reform, basically ensuring the Republican-majority agenda (except with health care reform). To pass a spending bill, however, the Senate must garner 60 votes, meaning bipartisan buy-in is a must.
Therein lies the challenge.
Senate Democrats have said they will vote yea if the legislation includes a legal reprieve for an estimated 800,000 young undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as infants (Dreamers). Democrats also would like to see additional funding for disaster relief in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, as well as for Florida, Texas and California.
Also on the table for Democrats and some Republicans is renewal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP.)
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is insisting funding for a wall between Mexico and the United States be included in the new spending plan.
OBVIOUSLY, some kind of compromise is in order. Such a prospect, however, was made less likely last week when the president made racist comments to describe poor countries sending immigrants to the United States.
The vulgar talk has turned the stomachs of those who may have been willing to break bread.
As of Tuesday night, Republicans realized the president had doomed their chances of finding common ground on immigration and are now pinning them on CHIP, which protects an estimated 9 million children.
Democrats should make the deal.
The health insurance program is too critical to the health of our nation to be put at further risk.
As, for that matter, are the lives of the Dreamers.
But that’s what happens when our disadvantaged are seen as bargaining chips and not as human beings.
