Sen. Bob Menendez had it right when he compared the Republican Senate to terrorists. Arrogant terrorists, so confident in the win they expect over tax cuts and gaining the upper hand that they're announcing the next hostage-taking.
Congressional Republicans are hoping to put Democrats in a no-win new year's jam: defund a big chunk of their health care overhaul or slash Medicare payments instead.
Despite rampant repeal rhetoric, Republicans have so far struggled to dismantle any part of health reform. Now, they see a new path forward: pilfer health reform dollars to pay for the next "doc fix," the must-pass patch to Medicare doctor payments.
The Senate has passed four doc fixes this year alone, none of which were longer than six months and two lasted just 30 days. The last patch, a one-month reprieve passed by the House on Monday, will expire on Dec. 31. Without a doc fix, Medicare provider rates would drop 25 percent.
The idea of tying the doc fix to a partial health reform repeal has legs because it comes with a clear rhetorical message: Congress should not start creating new entitlements without the necessary funding to uphold existing ones.
They're targeting a public health investment in prevention that would total $15 billion over the next decade, whereas extending massive tax cuts for millionaires will cost $700 billion in the next 10 years. It's worth repeating, this isn't about the deficit and a piddly $15 billion program isn't the issue. The issue is dismantling any achievement of the Democratic majority and Obama that they can. It's the pure power play of overwhelming the Democratic majority in the Senate, and more importantly the Democratic president.
Get used to it. Once they've won the tax cut extensions, the only thing that will likely be exempt from their hostage taking will be defense spending.