Nice, clear explanation. Ultimately, it is disappointing that Congress can't complete the task of developing and passing a budget. However, it is not surprising, given that they have created a situation where the budget is not balanced, and we are creating crippling debt for future generations. Neither side of the aisle is taking the issue seriously. This is why I have turned most of my attention to local politics - also an unserrious business, but I feel
Fiscal responsibility and addressing the federal deficit involves some combination of raising more revenue - taxes on some citizens - and/or more spending. The easy thing to do is to ignore those options and run up the debt for someone else to make difficult choices- "kick the can down the road"- in the future. Continuing resolutions, as you describe so well, is the accepted and continuing mechanism to avoid tough decisions and point fingers. Thank you for laying this out so clearly.
Republicans used to have some consideration for others. It was Reagan who created the ruling that hospitals cannot turn away any human who requires their help. If an illegal person injures himself while working on your farm he must be treated If a person has a 108 degree feaver, he gets treated and stops the spread of whatever disease he is infected.
Also I believe Blue States should refuse to pay any taxes to the Fed until they are fairly treated. Blue states basically pay all the revenue collected by the Fed. Red states suck it all up and are in the hole on taxes. Pull the Blue state taxes and let Trump try to run the country on Red taxes. Blues can pay their own way and keep their people employed and healthy.
Many groups have leverage if they would use it. Look at farmers. Trump’s tariffs are killing the export market and making a bad farm economy worse. But instead of calling on Republicans who represent most farm districts to do their job on tariffs (and immigration, energy, health, etc., etc.) or replace them, they are asking for temporary subsidies. Those subsidies weren’t a long-term solution in 2019-20; they won’t fix today’s farm crisis
As often is the case, a significant program can be made to look absurd. Sen. Kennedy is referring to PEPFAR and using testimony from OMB Director Russell Vought (which should be a big red flag right there!). PEPFAR - the President’s Emergency Fund for AiDS Relief - has broad bipartisan support, although like ALL foreign aid, it is mistrusted and distorted by MAGA. Yes, the program funds circumcisions because that has been shown to be an effective aid to prevent the spread of AIDS. And so on…. Whether the U.S. has a stake in building relationships with Africa and other areas of global significance is a legitimate discussion. Whether the U.S. should spend 1% of its entire federal budget in foreign aid, including PEPFAR, is a legitimate discussion. Arguing that the government is shutdown because of pastry classes in Haiti is absurd and a disservice to the thousands of federal workers now on furlough.
So hard to know what is true here. Senator Kennedy read a list of changes the Democrats want. They were ridiculous. Even under the big beautiful bill (what a childish name), Medicare was not reduced, its increase limited to 2 percent. Restrictions were added limiting Medicare to persons with incomes below a certain amount, what was originally intended. Perhaps we can reconsider them in the After (when Trump is gone).
The slap-dash changes to Medicare, Medicaid, VA and all the other health programs reflect the need for comprehensive health reform. Too many benefits - from tax benefits to direct payouts - are going to those who don’t need them. The Washington Post reported today “that millions of the claims (paid to veterans) are for minor or treatable afflictions that rarely hinder employment, such as hair loss, jock itch and toenail fungus.” That’s not to pick on veterans, but to illustrate that the enormous amount of federal dollars spent on health care could be better targeted.
Nice, clear explanation. Ultimately, it is disappointing that Congress can't complete the task of developing and passing a budget. However, it is not surprising, given that they have created a situation where the budget is not balanced, and we are creating crippling debt for future generations. Neither side of the aisle is taking the issue seriously. This is why I have turned most of my attention to local politics - also an unserrious business, but I feel
I can impact it. Federal seems unpenetrable.
Fiscal responsibility and addressing the federal deficit involves some combination of raising more revenue - taxes on some citizens - and/or more spending. The easy thing to do is to ignore those options and run up the debt for someone else to make difficult choices- "kick the can down the road"- in the future. Continuing resolutions, as you describe so well, is the accepted and continuing mechanism to avoid tough decisions and point fingers. Thank you for laying this out so clearly.
Republicans used to have some consideration for others. It was Reagan who created the ruling that hospitals cannot turn away any human who requires their help. If an illegal person injures himself while working on your farm he must be treated If a person has a 108 degree feaver, he gets treated and stops the spread of whatever disease he is infected.
Also I believe Blue States should refuse to pay any taxes to the Fed until they are fairly treated. Blue states basically pay all the revenue collected by the Fed. Red states suck it all up and are in the hole on taxes. Pull the Blue state taxes and let Trump try to run the country on Red taxes. Blues can pay their own way and keep their people employed and healthy.
Many groups have leverage if they would use it. Look at farmers. Trump’s tariffs are killing the export market and making a bad farm economy worse. But instead of calling on Republicans who represent most farm districts to do their job on tariffs (and immigration, energy, health, etc., etc.) or replace them, they are asking for temporary subsidies. Those subsidies weren’t a long-term solution in 2019-20; they won’t fix today’s farm crisis
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1507258147188099/?fs=e&fs=e
As often is the case, a significant program can be made to look absurd. Sen. Kennedy is referring to PEPFAR and using testimony from OMB Director Russell Vought (which should be a big red flag right there!). PEPFAR - the President’s Emergency Fund for AiDS Relief - has broad bipartisan support, although like ALL foreign aid, it is mistrusted and distorted by MAGA. Yes, the program funds circumcisions because that has been shown to be an effective aid to prevent the spread of AIDS. And so on…. Whether the U.S. has a stake in building relationships with Africa and other areas of global significance is a legitimate discussion. Whether the U.S. should spend 1% of its entire federal budget in foreign aid, including PEPFAR, is a legitimate discussion. Arguing that the government is shutdown because of pastry classes in Haiti is absurd and a disservice to the thousands of federal workers now on furlough.
So hard to know what is true here. Senator Kennedy read a list of changes the Democrats want. They were ridiculous. Even under the big beautiful bill (what a childish name), Medicare was not reduced, its increase limited to 2 percent. Restrictions were added limiting Medicare to persons with incomes below a certain amount, what was originally intended. Perhaps we can reconsider them in the After (when Trump is gone).
The slap-dash changes to Medicare, Medicaid, VA and all the other health programs reflect the need for comprehensive health reform. Too many benefits - from tax benefits to direct payouts - are going to those who don’t need them. The Washington Post reported today “that millions of the claims (paid to veterans) are for minor or treatable afflictions that rarely hinder employment, such as hair loss, jock itch and toenail fungus.” That’s not to pick on veterans, but to illustrate that the enormous amount of federal dollars spent on health care could be better targeted.