NOVEMBER 7 MATTERED
Before marching off into the minority, Congressional Republicans give one last swift kick in the gonads to the government and to the people.
With few options remaining, leaders are discussing whether to extend the CR until March 1 to give the incoming Democrats time to put the fiscal 2007 bills together — or something shorter. A full-year CR is a long shot, as GOP leaders would have a tough time rounding up the votes.
But considering the relative ease with which Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and his allies blocked further action this year on appropriations, government agencies are already drawing up worst-case scenarios. The Social Security Administration has told congressional staff it might have to furlough every employee.
Housing and Urban Development Department funding would not keep pace with demand for low-income housing vouchers, meaning “literally thousands of people would be out in the street,” one source said. School breakfast and lunch programs would face a $1 billion shortfall, cutting off 1.2 million participants. The Veterans Health Administration would have to absorb the $3 billion increase to meet this year’s requirements. Article
Dollars to doughnuts that any such consequences occurring in 2007 will immediately be blamed by the outgoing Republicans on the incoming Democratic majority. And that may be the saddest thing of all — that such childishness and negligence, at the expense of the country and the populace, is paramount, that the playbook has become more important to them than the job.
