Next Year’s Congress: Deem and Don’t Pass Go?
If the Democrats think it is likely that the House will shift to Republican control and that their losses in the Senate will be significant, their main concern is how to retain the ability to influence or impede the next Congress. For the liberals to retain control over the political and legislative agenda the focus must shift from the House to the Senate, where the lack of a budget resolution becomes a strategic asset. The Democrats retain filibuster control over the legislative agenda in the Senate by tying Republican hands. No budget, no reconciliation denying the 2011 Congress the opportunity to amend “ObamaCare” or any other piece of problematic legislation with a fifty-one vote majority.
Thus the very process the Democrats used to pass legislation would be denied the Republicans to amend that same legislation.
To ensure that the will of the people would actually be implemented, the Republicans should filibuster all appropriations bills for FY2011, particularly the appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services, until a budget resolution is passed. The Republicans in the Senate should force the passing of a short-term continuing resolution to ensure government operations continue at current levels until the Congress finds the political courage to pass a proper budget resolution and follow-on appropriations. This should be an easy political decision given the fact the only two of the twelve FY2011 appropriations bills are close to being voted on.
I would note that under a continuing resolution new programs normally may not be initiated, and as funds for “Obama Care” did not exist in FY2010, HHS and — more importantly — Dr. Berwick, the new un-confirmed administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Systems, would not be authorized to implement significant changes to current policies or programs or expend any monies not previously appropriated.
Then as House Majority Leader Hoyer has stated, the budget resolution could include any recommendations identified by the president’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
Are you saying that a simple majority could amend the FY2011 Budget, but it would take a super-majority to amend appropriations bills replacing it? Why is that?
Also, whatever amendments are proposed, they’ll still require a super-majority for cloture.
“Filibuster”
How tangled a web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
David
But, when we’ve practiced quite a while, how vastly we improve our style.
Republicans will likely regain the House. Are you saying that the Democrats’ failure to pass an actual budget resolution will prevent House representatives from de-funding Obamacare? And that this is the Democrats’ devious strategy?
(De-funding would seem to be the fastest, most direct way of dealing with Obamacare.)
Well, I would hope that some Republican whose brain cells are functioning will do what is necessary to get Tom DeLay on retainer to lead strategy and operations sessions for the fights that are going to ensue. There is a man who knows how to do hand-to-hand combat against democrats.
The other option is invoking the nuclear option. If Democrats want to railroad Obamacare into implementation, a Republican majority should strip them of the filibuster. It’s a dangerous move, not dubbed “nuclear” lightly, but it may be necessary to save the Republic.
Once again, we can turn to history to find guidance through these troubled times.
Well over two thousand years ago, Cato the Elder was faced with a festering half-solved issue that only got worse as time went on. As he stood in the Roman Senate, no matter what the issue, he ended every exposition with “Carthago delenda est” — “Carthage must be destroyed”.
Raise the levy for the troops? “Carthago delenda est.” Games for the people’s pleasure? “Carthago delenda est.” Increase the distribution of grain? “Carthago delenda est.” Dredge the harbor at Ostia? “Carthago delenda est.”
We need representatives in Congress who will say: “Obamacare delenda est”, “Bailouts delenda est”, “Public sector unions delenda est”, “Entrenched interests delenda est”.
And when the People’s voice is heard, each will suffer the fate of Carthage — to be razed until nary one stone is stacked on another, and their fields sown with salt.
It won’t be over in November — but if our Senators and Representatives do what they need to do, it will begin.
Let us not also practice to deceive. ObamaCare is unconstitutional, period. Not only does it violate the Bill of Rights, but the basic Constitution itself.
All Spending bills must originate in the House. ObamaCare originated in the Senate. There are NO FUNDS for it.
The opposition to the Leftists are as ignorant of the Constitution as the Left is. If they weren’t, they would simply always argue the Constitution to stop everything.
Here’s an example, the Constitution already requires a balanced budget. “Congress may only borrow money to pay for war expenses.”
To beat them, simply challenge them publicly. If you want all these big-government, unConstitutional things, then offer a Constitutional amendment! Just do not try to do an end-run around the Constitution! Call them out. Make them argue the Constitutionality of the issues. They will always lose.
The words “Congress” and “budget discipline” should never be used in the same sentence.
Obamacare is fraud and should be repealed on that basis. Czars are virtual criminals, and unnecessary…these positions should be abolished. Agencies such as the EPA, Energy and the Interior need to have their authorities scaled back and some need to be abolished altogether. Agencies do not make laws, they enact laws passed by Congress. The Executive Branch’s powers need to be curtailed. One person should not have the power of a king to make sweeping edicts that transform our lives and enrich others. The GOP needs to be about repeal, reduce, replace, and reform. Both parties need to stop playing games at the expense of our country. This country desperately needs a leader who is respected by both parties and I for one have not seen that person yet.
This story is a bit off base. With Obama sitting on his veto pen, it is going to be a matter of sending him budgets he hates, and watching him veto them.
Depending on the size of the Republican win, and the resolve of the Republicans in the House, a shutdown of the Federal Government is likely to occur next year.
Look for the stock market to move up 1000+ points the week this happens!