Congressional crossfire: Whose blame for impasse?: The Swamp

Posted October 26, 2007 2:39 PM

by Matthew Hay Brown

The Capitol is quiet today, with the Senate winding down its work for the week and the House already gone. But the parties’ communications operations never take a day off, which means Democratic leaders have lost little time firing back at President Bush and the congressional Republicans who spent the morning criticizing the congressional majority.

House Republican Leader John A. Boehner wished his Democratic friends a happy weekend this morning with a release noting that the current Congress was the first in two decades to have failed to send a single appropriations bill to the White House this late in the year. He blamed a majority that had "increasingly put politics before accomplishment."

"Instead of working with Republicans to strengthen our economic and national security, the majority has pursued a ‘go-it-alone’ approach that put the interests of our country last, not first," said Boehner, whose own party was not noted for its bipartisanship during its dozen-year run in the House majority before last year’s elections.''

Democrats, who accuse the president of intransigence on spending, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and the war in Iraq, are now taking exception.

"President Bush’s speech was an announcement of his intent to continue turning his back on the priorities of the American people: giving police officers the resources they need to protect our communities, ensuring children can see doctors when they are sick, improving education and changing course in Iraq," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said.

"The results have been disastrous," the Ohio Republican said. "Of the 106 bills signed into law in the 110th Congress, 46 bills named post offices, courthouses, or roads; 44 bills were non-controversial measures sponsored by Republicans or passed with overwhelming GOP support; 14 bills extended pre-existing public laws or laws passed during a Republican-led Congress; and two bills were enacted on the strength of GOP votes."

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell echoed Boehner.

"Friday marks the first time in 20 years that Congress has gone this long without sending even a single appropriations bill down to the President for his signature," the Kentucky Republican said.

"In addition, Congress is woefully behind in passing a clean veterans’ bill, fixing the middle-class tax hike, and working together to pass an SCHIP bill that the President will sign.

"Unless Congress acts soon, we’ll have troops in the field without a commitment from Congress to fund their mission. We ought to immediately provide our troops the funding they need.

"It’s time to start addressing the country’s priorities. All of these things need to be done, and soon."

Both Boehner and McConnell were following the morning’s broadside by Bush, who called on congressional Democrats "to stop wasting time and get essential work done on behalf of the American people.''

In his own remarks today, Reid maintained that: "Democrats are working to address the needs Republican Congresses have severely under-funded, but President Bush – the biggest-spending President in 40 years – threatens to veto our requests based on the laughable claim that he is fiscally responsible."

"It is irresponsible for President Bush to ignore these critical priorities as he calls for another $200 billion for his mismanaged wars," the Nevada Democrat said. "The president’s reckless spending overseas is cutting short investments right here in America. It is clear that President Bush’s priorities are simply not those of the American people."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Bush failed to grasp "a basic tenet of fiscal responsibility – you must pay for what you spend.

"The president would rather spend another $200 billion in Iraq and leave our children to pick up the tab than make fiscally sound investments in veterans’ health care, cancer research and health care for 10 million children," the California Democrat said.

"Congress is moving America in a new direction that provides health care to 10 million children, which is fully paid for, and reinvests in key domestic priorities as part of a balanced budget that restores pay-as-you-go discipline and rejects new deficit spending.

"This Congress’ record on fiscal discipline and meeting our national priorities sends the President this message: the days of the fiscally irresponsible rubber-stamp Congress are over."

Lawmakers now have three weeks to reauthorize or extend SCHIP before it expires, and three weeks before the Nov. 16 deadline set by Democrats to finish the 12 spending bills that fund the day-to-day operations of the federal government.

No one expects them to finish in time. As the lead headline of The Hill newspaper had it this morning: "Votes deep into December/House lawmakers told: You may be here till Christmas."

Comments

This is what passes for journalism these days? Transcribing partisan press releases?

Posted by: Toby | October 26, 2007 2:53 PM

"I SAY BUSH/CHENEY GO IT ALONE"

I say the Democrats shut down the Government and play Bush for what he is, and Cheney for what he isn't.

One destroyed the economy and the dollar and the other destroyed the fabrics of the Constitution by allowing it to be held hostage for political monetary gain.

So I'm not Harry Ried but I would play the I Can't Hear You menatality until end of the year.

Show this WHITEHOUSE AND IT'S GOP STOMP that we hear you CHILDREN DO NOT NEED HEALTHCARE. Let the program expire and Watch Physicians across the country pick up the phone and call their constituents as they cancel their appointments.

WHY BOTHER BABYSITTING THESE TWO CRY BABIES BUSH AND CHENEY THE LAST DAYS OF DARKEN WHITE HOUSE!

Now that's partisan thinking if I must say so.

Posted by: Roger Morris | October 26, 2007 3:36 PM

Harry Reid should listen to John Boehner these Dem liberals are egomaniacs and elitists who are partisan to the extreme.Politics is the art of the possible. These Democrats should sit down with GOP House leadership and craft a childrens health bill acceptable to America. They are obstructionists who could care less about governing. They have pitiful accomplishments to show for the year.Jerry White, Springfield, IL

Posted by: Jerry White | October 26, 2007 3:40 PM

"The House is already gone." Didn't Speaker Pelosi promise a full work week when she took over? The works not done but there can't be enough three day weekends for the lazy.

Posted by: whatnow | October 26, 2007 4:31 PM

Once again Jerry you are delusional. You dare use the word "obstructionist" for the Democrats. Your hero Bush and Republican Congressman have nothing to show in 7 years. Their complete and utter incompetence and corruption has only given us record deficits, foreign debt, death, and destruction. Jerry, Jerry, Jerry, why do I bother, you are lost.

Posted by: Tim | October 26, 2007 4:34 PM

Jerry Springfield,

Harry Reid has listened to much to Bush/Cheney lapdog John Boehner recently.
Boehner is an insignificant Repub lockstepper and he should be ignored more often
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj3UNB7B23M

Posted by: Rush | October 26, 2007 4:42 PM

"In addition, Congress is woefully behind in... working together to pass an SCHIP bill that the President will sign.

Posted by Mark Silva on October 26, 2007 2:39 PM | Permalink

Will somebody please remind this Senator that Congress doesn't work for the President.

It's like Congress has battered wife syndrome. They pass good, bipartisan legislation that an overwhelming majority of the American public wants, the President vetos it, and somehow it's Congress' fault!?

The office of President doesn't come with a crown and a throne. Congress does not need to bow down and do as the President wishes. King George needs a reality check. The American people voted to give him one in 2006, and now Congress needs to deliver, or we should vote every one of today's incumbents (Democrat and Republican) out of office the first chance we get!

Posted by: crafty b | October 26, 2007 4:47 PM

Like Bhoener is known for working with Democrats? Since when, he cries to show he cares, then promptly votes against every bill there is for veterans health care and compensation. He cares about being a rubber stamp for Bush/Cheney's run away spending, under the Bush's this nations deficit has gone from 4 trillion in debt to now over 9 trillion one family in 12 years took us deeper in debt than all other 42 Presidents in over 200 years, we need fiscal discipline not a rubber stamp for the "terror wars" we need accountability, if Congress doesn't approve a new budget then they can't spend more than they did in 2006 and that might be a good thing.....

Posted by: Mike Bailey | October 26, 2007 4:54 PM

These Democrats should sit down with GOP House leadership and craft a childrens health bill acceptable to America.

Ummmmm....Jerry. America overwhelmingly (65%) found the last SCHIP bill acceptable.

I think you think George W. Bush is America. You should move to a monarchy. Democracy obviously is not for you.

Posted by: crafty b | October 26, 2007 5:09 PM

This kind of crap from Bush, Boehner and the rest of the Bushies is no surprise. But...they do have a point. When are those that we elected to correct this country's sad state of affairs going to do their job? Primarily, when are they going to impeach Bush and Cheney, and get down to doing what is right for this country?

Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | October 26, 2007 7:11 PM

John Boner and the rest of the Republic party are causing the impasse right now. Their incompetent Republic buddies like Generalisimo Betrayus are typical.

Posted by: weinerdog43 | October 26, 2007 10:27 PM

This is merely the begining of the end of the GOP term. We've all known that they would leave our nation in a total mess and then blame the Dems for not being good enough janitors to clean it up. They're just starting early. Dems are now at fault for all the congressional inadequacies. To quote Rumsfelt when he stepped down, "It's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better."

Posted by: Giraffe | October 27, 2007 12:41 AM