And yet, somehow, they cannot make the government work. We have avoided 3 government shutdowns because, at the last minute, the Republicans promised to work with Democrats - who then vote with the Republicans to avoid a shutdown, because too many Republicans themselves vote to shut the government - even though they are the government. Paul Ryan has needed Democratic votes to get it through the House every time (even though they are a majority of 248 - 186).
Today and tomorrow we are in the theatrics again as we are "36 hours from a government shut-down!!!!".
VSG* President Ting Hands has thrown not 1, but 2 different roadblocks at different times derailing negotiations not once, but twice.
First the President promised to sign a bill (even if it is unpopular) that was bi-partisan fix to DACA and border security. Last week, after a bi-partisan fix was proposed, but he nixed it because it let people from shithole countries in Africa and Haiti stay in the country - despite the bill containing 3 of his key requirements for the border and wall. That hissy-fit took down the first attempt.
So the Republicans are trying to get a continuing resolution on their own (passing with only Republican votes) and daring the Democrats to hold back 9 votes in the Senate to pass it. To make it harder for the Democrats to vote against it, the House Republicans proposed adding funding for CHIP (the Children's Health Insurance Program) which has run out of funds. The idea is that Democrats will have to eat whatever shit is in the resolution to keep letting kids get health insurance. It is a tough one for many republicans because they think the only thing they should support is paying for the military, giving budget busting tax breaks to millionaires and they complaining about the budget.But before they could even vote on that proposal, VSG P TH tweeted today that the stop gap funding should NOT include CHIP funding (because who gives a shit about kids).
I would be very interested to see the 248 Republicans propose something that would get 218 Republican votes and pass on their own.
*Very Stable Genius