Allow me to give a quick summary of the Senate’s activity this past week. Throughout the week, lawmakers debated a spending plan that would fund the government into November, which would prevent a shutdown in October. This debate predominantly centered around one particular amendment in the plan, which would ensure that funds are designated to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Previously, House Republicans had put forward a plan that would allow the government to avert a shutdown, but would also eliminate implementation of any funding for the ACA. During the Senate debate, Republican Ted Cruz of Texas gave a 21 hour speech arguing against funding of the ACA. Despite his efforts and those of other Republicans, the spending measure passed with the amendment on a 54-44 vote on Friday, Sept. 27 and moved to the House. No Republicans voted in favor of the plan.
So, let’s discuss the implications. This development presents an opportunity for House Republicans to be rational and act in the interest of the American people. Whether or not Cruz and other Tea Party politicians like it, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. It remains on the books despite countless votes led by the Republican majority in the House to repeal it, and it’s high time that Republican leadership recognized this. Railing passionately against the ACA may endear politicians to the Tea Party faction, but ultimately it is beating a dead horse. In this debate, Republicans should make reasonable demands for future spending restrictions. This would achieve several ends for the Republican Party. First, it illustrates a commitment to the fiscal solvency and limited spending that the Party prides itself on. Additionally, conceding the ACA issue and instead discussing future spending puts pressure on moderate Democrats to compromise on economic issues in order to avoid a government shutdown. Done wisely, this could lead to actual legislative victories for the Republican Party, which have been few and far between in the last five years.
House Republicans face a legislation situation has become an all-too-common reality in American politics, and one that has traditionally cast both sides in a poor light. Politicians on both sides continue to obliviously engage in heated rhetoric as the nation moves closer and closer to a government shutdown. However, this seemingly dire situation has presented Speaker of the House John Boehner and the Republican caucus a golden opportunity to act maturely and trump radical factions in the Party that refuse any measure of compromise with the Obama Administration or Senate Democrats. It’s unclear whether the Party leadership is willing to do this, but the ball is certainly in their court. So John Boehner, I implore you: take control of your Party and lead the Republicans toward compromise.
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