It’s already mid-June, which means that the prospect of a government shutdown this fall is that much closer. Between now and September 30, Congress has to come up with and pass a budget. The House, as usual, is looking at ways to blow everything the hell up according to Bloomberg congressional reporter, Erik Wasson.
Last we checked in on the possibility for another budget reconciliation push, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was shooting it down. Remember, putting reconciliation instructions in a budget is how the very slim Republican majority can pass destructive bills through the Senate, because they aren’t subject to the filibuster and can pass with a simple majority and no Democratic votes. That’s how the big tax scam bill passed last year. It’s also how they tried to pass Trumpcare, but failed.
Given the heat Republicans are feeling right now over the Trump administration’s latest Obamacare sabotage and just how huge it has emerged as an issue for the 2018 midterms, it doesn’t seem entirely likely that they’ll take another bite at that one.
What’s the alternative? Yep, “entitlements.” House Speaker Paul Ryan is not going to be happy leaving the House without having achieved his lifelong goal of destroying at least one social insurance program—Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security. Chances are good at least one of them is going to end up on his chopping block this summer and fall.
Because that’s who Paul Ryan and his band of nihilists are. They’re arrogant enough to believe that they could get away with it, too.
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