Hey, look at this! Government funding runs out in one month! The last 20 days in the House of Representatives has been absolutely bonkers. But get used to it, because you know what happens when there isn't a budget, and appropriations committees don't work, and the government has been running on a continuing resolution from the last administration? You got it, government shutdown threats.
In fact, one Republican tells Mike Allen of Axios that a shutdown is "more likely than not," and that's a problem because "Wall Street is not expecting a shutdown and the markets are unprepared."
And Chris Krueger of Cowen Washington Research Group today will warn financial clients: "Hello April 29 government shutdown." […]
A senior GOP aide disputed the bearish forecasts: "The White House and Republicans on the Hill cannot/won't risk a shutdown. Given the last week — it's out of the question."
Reality check: While the GOP may have the will, party strategists don't see the way: The bleak House GOP math remains, with no sign it'll change. And the GOP can't count on the twin hail Marys floated over the weekend: enlisting moderate Dems (as we reported yesterday), or the Congressional Black Caucus (as Jonathan Swan revealed in his Sunday-night newsletter, Sneak Peek).
That's a pretty spot-on reality check.
The House Freedom Caucus is, if anything, feeling empowered after defeating Trumpcare. But that doesn't mean they're happy with certain outcomes—like not getting Planned Parenthood defunded, one of the things they've threatened a shutdown over before.
Anyone who thinks that the maniacs will be the slightest bit hesitant to further damage House Speaker Paul Ryan or popular vote loser Donald Trump was not paying enough attention to the Trumpcare debacle last week. They will be more than happy to shut down the government, no matter the consequences. Maybe this time, though, Ryan will have learned. Maybe, just maybe, he'll cooperate with Democrats and allow a clean continuing resolution to pass.