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So Congress couldn’t come to a budget agreement before the October 1st,
2013 deadline and, as a result, the U.S. government “shut down.” According to the Democratic
leadership in Congress and President Obama the blame for this rests on the Republicans and the
Tea Party element of the Republican Party. Of course, the Republicans deny this and explain the
failure to pass the budget as a lack of cooperation and good faith on the part of the Democrats
and the president.
Ignoring all the meaningless rhetoric and finger-pointing, let’s see if we
can uncover the real facts. First, let’s agree that the federal budget has been out of control for
the past several years – spending has risen to unprecedented levels at breathtaking rates.
Concurrently, and not surprisingly, the national debt has exploded. The need to arrive at a budget
that stops the spiraling U.S. debt should not be a contentious issue. So, both Democrats and
Republicans need to agree on a budget that brings our binge spending under control. There does
not appear to be any serious disagreement on this point.
A budget for 2014 should have been agreed to long before the October
1st 2013 deadline and there should have been no government shutdown on that date. “Indeed, the
shutdown is happening because the federal government doesn't have a budget for fiscal 2014, which
starts today {October 1st}. The reason it doesn't have a budget is because the Republican-led House
passed a budget calling for $3.5 trillion in spending, the Democratically controlled Senate passed
a budget calling for $3.7 trillion in spending, and President Obama issued a proposal calling for
$3.77 trillion in spending. This happened back in the spring. The House and the Senate passed
their budget plans in late March. The president's proposal, the last to be issued, came out on
April 10.” (Ref. 1) Now it’s October 2013, 6 months
later, and there is no agreement on a budget. Is this or is this not a totally
dysfunctional government?
Where a major problem and a disagreement arise is on the issue of ObamaCare.
ObamaCare came into being because of the efforts of the then-Democratic majorities in Congress and
President Obama to enact the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) in 2009. Full implementation of the
law was scheduled to begin in 2014. Most Republicans vehemently oppose ObamaCare
and have been lobbying to repeal it. Failing that, they have been trying to defund the law,
which would render it impotent, or to delay its implementation.
If we concede that the there is a budget problem and that the federal
deficit needs to brought under control, then the Republican approach to a 2014 budget makes sense.
This approach to the 2014 budget was summed up when House Speaker John Boehner said "there is no
way Congress can or should pass such a bill without spending cuts and reforms to deal with the
debt and deficit." (Ref. 2) One of the major
spending issues in the 2014 budget was and is the Affordable Care Act. Thus spending cuts and
reforms to deal with the debt and deficit would seemingly need to include consideration of
ObamaCare. Harry Reid and the President don’t agree!
In any event, let’s take a look at what has transpired as the budget
deadline approached and as shutdown of the government on 1 October became first imminent and
then a reality. For a starter, let’s look at ObamaCare. Just how hard and fast was the starting
date for ObamaCare implementation on 1 October? Was the government fully prepared to put the
law into effect on this date? Were the majority of Americans behind the health care law? Did
the majority of Americans understand the new law and were they ready to enroll and choose
their plans?
Just how hard and fast was the starting date for ObamaCare
implementation on 1 October? Apparently not hard and fast at all!
Let’s remember that the president provided a one year delay of the employer
mandate. In addition, he’s provided exceptions for unions and others. There are even exceptions
for members of Congress. A one year delay in implementing a major element of the law was OK
with the President; modifying the apparently flawed law by presidential decree was OK with
the President. But when the House of Representatives moved to modify a Senate bill by adding
to it a one year delay of the individual mandate portion of ObamaCare, that was a no-no for
the President and the Democrats in Congress. [3]
Better to shut down the government than to permit the Republicans to do what the President had
already done – delay ObamaCare (or a major feature of it) for a year.
Was the government fully prepared to put the law into effect
on this date? The answer – NO!
“The prognosis isn’t looking too good for the implementation of the
labyrinthine ObamaCare law.
“The Obama administration announced this week that special exchanges
designed to “make it easier” for small businesses to provide affordable health care insurance
for employees will be delayed again to 2015 in the 33 states where the federal government will
be running the exchanges.” (Ref. 4)
“There has been much ridicule among the chattering class every time
congressional Republicans attempt – however fruitlessly – to repeal ObamaCare.
“Yet here is the Obama administration itself delaying the implementation
of one provision after another because, of course, to set them all in motion would bring the
health care system crashing down around us.
“So to avoid the inevitable screaming, especially from key Obama
political constituencies, the administration has given waiver after waiver from some insurance
provisions to favored unions.
“Then just last month the White House – again with no congressional
input to actually change the law – simply announced a one year delay in the requirement that
large employers offer health care coverage to full-time employees or face a penalty. Individuals
faced with a similar dilemma and similar penalties are also demanding relief – thus far
without success.
“But this week {in August 2013} the administration announced yet another
delay – until 2015 – {of the provision} to limit out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles
and co-pays - - -“ (Ref. 5)
“Residents and small business owners in certain states will not be able
to fully sign up for a policy online in October because technical glitches have put enrollment
on hold temporarily or forced state officials to implement old-fashioned work-arounds.
- - -
“The District of Columbia was one of the latest to announce a hiccup.
The district last week said that residents eligible for Medicaid or federal subsidies will not
be able to enroll in a policy until November, giving officials another month to work out bugs
that have been producing high error rates during testing.” (Ref. 6
)
Are the majority of Americans behind the health care law?
It certainly does not appear so! Did the majority of Americans understand the new law and were
they ready to enroll and choose their plans on the 1st of October? Polling numbers say they
were not and still are not!
“Almost three years after it was passed, the legislation is still as
unpopular as ever. So the administration has now turned to mass marketing for help in researching
the lives of uninsured people, hoping to craft winning sales pitches to garner more support for
the law, especially in time for the 2014 midterm elections. Marketing for the new system will
start this summer, going into high gear during the fall after premiums and other plan information
becomes public.” (Ref. 4)
“Pass it now, ask questions later. And we have ever since, with everyone
still trying to find out what’s in it, Republicans doing everything they can to defund it, and
Democrats scrambling to still sell it in hopes of changing public opinion.
“I’m sure this administration wasn’t expecting the resistance they’ve
encountered from the public for yet another entitlement. Most Americans like their Social
Security and Medicare, so naturally, they should’ve loved this one too. Instead, they’ve been
fighting it every step of the way, and no amount of mass marketing will change the clear fact
that this bill was nothing more than a major federal power grab.” (Ref. 4
)
“One-out-of-two U.S. voters continues to oppose the national health
care law’s requirement that every American have health insurance. Most also still don’t know if their
state has a health care exchange even though those exchanges are scheduled to start signing up
insurance applicants beginning tomorrow {1 October 2013} [Emphasis mine].
“Thirty-six percent (36%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the government should
require every American to buy or obtain health insurance, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports
national telephone survey. Fifty percent (50%) disagree and oppose the so-called individual mandate.
Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.” (Ref. 7)
Clearly, despite administration claims to the opposite and some 4 years
after the Democrats ramrodded ObamaCare into law, the American public is still not enamored of the
Affordable Care Act.
“Most voters still don't like the health care law, and 54% expect it to
increase, not reduce, health care costs. From the beginning of the debate over the law four years
ago, voters have consistently said that cost is their number one health care concern.
{Only thirty} percent (30%) believe the nation’s health care system will
get better under the new law, the most positive assessment to date. {However,} Fifty-one
percent (51%) still think the law will make the health care system worse. [Emphasis mine]”
(Ref. 7)
For the past year, President Obama and his administration have been
postponing major provisions of the Affordable Care Act and granting special exemptions to states,
unions and other Democratic favorites. But, when Republican politicians propose to postpone the full
implementation of ObamaCare for a year, it’s a non-negotiable ‘NO’! And if the government shuts down as a result,
then it’s all the wicked Republicans’ fault. Even without an official postponement, ObamaCare is
being delayed because it’s obviously not yet ready for prime time. “On the first day of enrollment
for ObamaCare {1 October 2013}, technical glitches on federal and numerous state-run insurance
exchanges are delaying and turning away Americans.” (Ref. 8
)
The Republican compromise offered to keep the government funded and
running while delaying the implementation of ObamaCare. It did not propose to repeal ObamaCare nor
to defund it. If Obama and the Democrats agreed to the compromise, the government would not
have shut down.
Who has been offering proposals to break the budget stalemate and who
has been rejecting these proposals out of hand? Who has offered up compromises and who has refused
to compromise? Who has refused to negotiate and who hasn’t put forth any counterproposals? Consider
what has transpired in the days preceding the government shutdown.
As part of one budget proposal, Republicans proposed to repeal the medical
device sales tax provision of ObamaCare. “. . . due to widespread opposition to the medical device
sales tax provision of ObamaCare, the Senate voted 79-20 to repeal that portion of the bill,
something the House already did by a vote of 270-146.” (Ref. 4
) But the proposal failed because Democrats refused to accept the overall budget
bill in which the provision was included. The administration offered no counterproposal. Instead,
Obama and Democrat big wigs screamed that: “The Republicans are to blame for the
government shutdown!”
Initially, the Republicans linked a federal budget to the repeal of
ObamaCare. As polls over the past 4 years have repeatedly shown, more than 50% of the American
people are opposed to ObamaCare and would not be opposed to its repeal. But, repeal of ObamaCare
is not an acceptable option for the president or for the Democratic leadership in Congress – after
all, it is the key accomplishment of the Obama administration. The President and Congressional
Democrats offered no budget plan of their own; they offered no alternatives and they suggested
no compromises. Instead, they insisted that a budget be passed before they would consider
sitting down to discuss things and they continued to scream that: “The Republicans are to blame
for the government shutdown!”
When Republicans proposed a compromise that would only defund ObamaCare
as opposed to repealing it as part of their budget plan, President Barack Obama said that he would
“not negotiate over the debt ceiling with Republicans.” (Ref. 9
) The President and Congressional Democrats offered no budget plan of their
own; they offered no alternatives and they suggested no compromises. Instead they insisted
that a budget be passed before they would consider sitting down to discuss things and they
continued screaming that: “The Republicans are to blame for the government
shutdown!”
As another compromise, the Republicans suggested delaying ObamaCare for
one year. The House bill, which the chamber backed on a 228-201 vote, would have delayed the
law's individual mandate while prohibiting lawmakers, their staff and top administration officials
from getting government subsidies for their health care.[10
] The Democrats said no and they offered no budget plan of their own; they
offered no alternatives and they suggested no compromises. Instead they continued to insist
that a budget be passed before they would consider sitting down to discuss things. Meanwhile,
Obama and his Democrat henchmen went on screaming that: “The Republicans are to blame for
the government shutdown!”
Previously, the Senate had rejected a GOP proposal that would delay
the health care law by one year and repeal the unpopular medical device tax. The Democrats
said no.[10] The President and Congressional
Democrats offered no budget plan of their own; they offered no alternatives and they suggested
no compromises. Instead they insisted that a budget be passed and then they would consider
sitting down to discuss things. All the while, Obama, Pelosi, Reid and other Democrats were
screaming that: “The Republicans are to blame for the government shutdown!”
In another attempt to avoid a government shutdown, the House GOP tried
to overcome the opposition from the Democratic-dominated Senate by passing a compromise measure.
Like earlier House bills which were rejected by the Senate, this
compromise would have fully funded the federal budget for several weeks.
“The House bill {would have ended} the lucrative exemptions from
ObamaCare regulations that were granted by Obama to his aides and to Hill staffers.
“The GOP bill {would also have} set a one-year delay for the unpopular
ObamaCare rule that requires people to buy health-insurance. The delayed individual mandate
is modeled after the delay already granted to companies by the White House.” (
Ref. 3) Once again, the President and Congressional
Democrats said no and offered no budget plan of their own; they offered no alternatives
and they suggested no compromises. Instead they went on insisting that a budget be passed
and then they would consider sitting down to discuss things. Still, Obama and the Democratic
Party mouthpieces screamed that: “The Republicans are to blame for the government
shutdown!”
Another proposal by House Republicans to fund certain parts of government
and stop the government shutdown failed as Democrats insisted they would not pick winners and
losers among federal services, and the White House threatened a veto. But, President Obama
had already done just this, and Congress unanimously concurred, when he approved funding of
the military to continue, even during the shutdown. Apparently, what’s good for the goose isn’t
good for the gander! In rejecting the proposal by House Republicans to fund certain parts of
government and stop the government shutdown, the President and Congressional Democrats offered
no budget plan of their own; they offered no alternatives and they suggested no compromises.
Instead, they repeated the ultimatum that a budget be passed before they even would consider
sitting down to discuss things. Once more, Obama and the Democrat big wigs screamed that:
“The Republicans are to blame for the government shutdown!”
President Barack Obama offered no plan or proposal to end the budget
stand-off during his brief public appearance on September 30, just seven hours before the
government shut down.[3] But, for the umpteenth
time, he told the American people that: “The Republicans are to blame for the government
shutdown!”
“Instead, he tried to portray the GOP’s opposition to the federal
takeover of the nation’s health-care system as merely ideological opposition and personal
dislike of the president. (Ref. 3)
“Obama did not offer to broker a deal that would close the gap
between his Democratic faction and the GOP leaders in the House.
“Obama did not urge the Democrat-controlled Senate to accept
a compromise deal.
“Obama did not suggest he would welcome a compromise.”
(Ref. 3)
So, just who is being unreasonable; who is not offering any meaningful
suggestions to end the stalemate; who is refusing to even discuss compromises; who is refusing
to negotiate; and who is opposing the will of the American people? Republicans in Congress have
proposed nearly a half dozen budget plans that include numerous compromises. The Republican
compromises offered include: giving up on their initial proposal to repeal ObamaCare; giving
up on their proposal to defund ObamaCare; giving up their proposal to delay ObamaCare
implementation for a year; approving selected budget items and funding the government in the
short term until a complete budget plan could be worked out.
Instead of the Republican proposals, what President Obama and Senate
President Harry Reid have been insisting on is for the House pass a "clean" spending plan to
fund the government for a few months before negotiating over parts of the health care law.
In other words, surrender and then we’ll consider talking. This isn’t the
way to negotiate or to hold an open discussion – it’s another case of play by my
rules or I won’t play at all!. All the while, Obama and the Democratic leadership
have been screaming at the top of their lungs that: “The Republicans are to blame for the
government shutdown!” It’s all finger-pointing and name calling, but no meaningful action.
It’s the same tired excuse that “It’s all George Bush’s fault” one more time – which some
of us call “passing the buck.”
When Republicans proposed to work out a budget compromise in a joint
House-Senate conference committee, the Democrats again said no. “This time, the House proposal
also included a call for a conference committee to seek a compromise. But Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid said Democrats turned down the package . . .” (Ref.
11)
“The GOP counteroffer rejected by the Senate . . . would have delayed
ObamaCare for a year and ended federally provided health care for the president, members of
Congress and their staff while funding the government for 11 weeks.
“In addition, the House GOP plan proposed a conference committee
with the Senate to work out a compromise. Such a committee is usually the result of competing
legislation from the two chambers on major issues, rather than a short-term continuing
resolution intended to keep the government running for a matter of weeks.” (
Ref. 11)
What we have here is the Democratic controlled Senate rejecting a
House request to begin a conference committee with members from both chambers to resolve the
parties' differences over the Affordable Care Act. The Democratic reply: No! We won’t
negotiate - We want to be able to blame the Republicans for the government shutdown!
Instead of sitting down to work out a plan to reach a budget compromise and end the government
shutdown, the president and his Democratic underlings in Congress have instituted a campaign
of vituperation, name calling and finger pointing. Senate Democrats made it perfectly clear
that they’d rather shut down the federal government than accept even the most reasonable
changes to ObamaCare. Once again, the Democrats have taken a “it’s my way or the
highway!” approach to governance.
As of the 4th of October, 2013, the second day of the government
shutdown, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives had proposed nearly half a
dozen bills to fund the government. Harry Reid and the Democratic controlled Senate had
rejected them all. The Democrats would rather continue forcing the ObamaCare law down the
throats of the American people than fund the government. The president and the Democratic
controlled Senate have now rejected all Republican proposals without offering any
counterproposals. The Democrats want it all their way – no discussions, no compromises,
no concern for the American people. In doing so, they, and not the Republicans, have been
responsible for the government shutdown. As Republican House Speaker John Boehner said:
"The president says, 'I'm not going to negotiate.' - - - Well, I'm sorry, but it just
doesn't work that way." (Ref. 12)
So you decide. Who is to blame for the government shutdown?
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References
- Let Us Be Clear: Obama Deserves Chief Responsibility for Gov't Shutdown., Nick Gillespie,
reason.com,
1 October 2013.
- Latest House bid fails as bitter back-and-forth over government shutdown rages,
Holly Yan and Tom Cohen,
CNN Politics, 1 October 2013.
- Obama hits GOP, refuses to broker budget compromise, The Daily Caller,
Accessed 1 October 2013.
- ObamaCare Exchanges Delayed to 2015, Obama Now Turns to Mass Marketing, John Giokaris,
policymic.com, Accessed 1 October 2013.
- The liar in chief , OpEd, Boston Herald , Page 18, 15 August 2013.
- The ObamaCare insurance exchanges open for business on Tuesday ... sorta., Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
30 September 2013.
- Health Care Law, Rasmussen Reports, 30 September 2013.
- ObamaCare ‘glitch’ watch: States report delays, hiccups on exchange sites,
foxnews.com, 1 October 2013.
- Obama: I Won't Negotiate with GOP 'Extremists', Tony Lee, breitbart.com,
27 September 2013.
- House Republicans in last-ditch effort to avert shutdown, Reid says GOP 'playing games',
foxnews.com,
30 September 2013.
- Obama blames Republican 'ideological crusade' for shutdown, Holly Yan and Tom Cohen,
CNN Politics,
1 October 2013.
- Obama's no-negotiation stance setting new tone, Yahoo! News,
27 September 2013.
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