San Antonio Express-News: Shut Down the "Shutdown Caucus"
by: Rep. Lloyd Doggett
October 6, 2015
This is what we have come to---some House Republicans have become so radical, so rigid, that even their Leader finally said, “I give up.” Near Halloween, a new Speaker begins, but not necessarily a new way of doing business. For the American people, this is likely to be all trick and no treat. Until Republicans stop calling their own leaders liars and begin seeking bipartisan answers to multiple national challenges, we will continue facing one unnecessary, manufactured crisis after another.
To achieve progress, the new Speaker must permit consideration of measures enjoying genuine bipartisan support. So often, Boehner relied almost exclusively on Republican votes, which empowered the most extreme elements to hold the congressional agenda hostage. That’s what happened in July when Confederate flag-wavers refused to support appropriations bills that limited flag display. Six essential spending measures still remain blocked.
To bridge this impasse, Democrats offered to ignore Confederate symbols if the Speaker would simply permit debate on strengthening the Voting Rights Act. We were rejected, since this measure also is supported by some, but not most Republicans.
Extremists previously stopped public education reform, immigration overhaul, Export-Import Bank renewal, the Violence Against Women Act and took us just over “the fiscal cliff” in 2013.
Even short of a complete shutdown, certain key priorities are already shutdown. For example, the nation’s infrastructure is overwhelmed, while no action is taken on long-term transportation investment. Since the last 5-year transportation authorization expired, there have been 34 short-term extensions. Neglecting our deteriorating roads and bridges, these same Republicans amazingly seem excited to build a giant wall along the Mexican border.
Nor is the full faith and credit of the United States in paying our nation’s bills a legitimate bargaining chip. Yet the former Republican-appointed Congressional Budget Office Director says, “Republicans can’t pass a debt limit increase — period.” “They could … close every federal agency and it wouldn’t pass the House.” This is reality despite Congress having adjusted this debt limitation a total of 25 times for Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush.
When the federal government is shutdown, veterans don’t receive benefits; federal retirees, employees and contractors are not paid. Temporary funding has just been continued through mid-December only because 91 Republicans were permitted the rare opportunity to join Democrats in approval, overcoming opposition from 151 Republicans. What happens next, just before Christmas, is more uncertainty. A repeat of 2013 would leave families wondering: How to pay their rent or mortgage? Car payment? Student loans? Utilities and credit card bills?
During the last shutdown, the Republican excuse was Obamacare. Now, it’s misrepresentations about Planned Parenthood. They will ultimately fail, but can still inflict real damage. Some new Republican Members signed a letter urging the Speaker to avoid a shutdown, but no Texas Republican joined. Among those lamenting recent developments: Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa) said some Republicans “cannot get to yes” and are weakening Congress. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) questioned those trying to “hijack and blackmail the party,” indicating that Boehner’s fall shows “crazies have taken over the party.”
Mindful of the estimated $24 billion cost of the last unnecessary Republican shutdown, we cannot afford to needlessly threaten job growth. To keep the government operational, the Speaker should reach out to Democrats, boldly choosing bipartisanship over the “Shutdown Caucus.”
Fringe element schemes reduce American economic competitiveness, limit individual opportunity, and cost every working family. Quoting his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis urged us to “work together in building our common home.” The work to strengthen our homes should begin in the House. And that begins with a Speaker willing to shut down the Shutdown Caucus.
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