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| If John Boehner and Company manage to shut down the government over planned parenthood, he'll really have something to cry about. |
Republicans Threatening Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood
Ryan Grimm - Huffington Post 4-7-2011
The United States government is on the verge of shutting down over a dispute about subsidized pap smears. The White House and Senate Democrats have publicly capitulated to ever increasing GOP demands for spending cuts, but the negotiations over whether to shut down the government no longer hinge on money but instead are focused on so-called riders: Provisions in a budget that restrict the federal government from spending money on certain projects or entities.
Riders are used by members of Congress to make social policy without going through the regular congressional committee process, or they are used to benefit business interests by specifically blocking the government from spending money to write or enforce certain regulations.
At a late-night White House meeting between the president and key congressional leaders, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) made clear that House Republicans would not approve funding for the government if any money were allowed to flow to Planned Parenthood through legislation known as Title X. “This comes down to women's health issues related to Title X,” a person in the meeting told HuffPost.
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I have been following the 2011 budget battle with keen interest, wondering how far John Boehner would let the Tea Party fringe control the Republican party. Apparently all the way to a government shutdown over birth control pills for middle income and poor women. It is incomprehensible to me that Boehner & Co would deprive our active military--the real warriors--of their pay checks so some right wing culture warriors can determine which women will and will not get access to reproductive health care. If this isn't big government intrusion, I don't what is. If this doesn't threaten national security, I don't what does. If this isn't all about diverting people from other cuts in this budget, I don't why the fuss.
If the Tea Party was supposed to save America from big government, it surely isn't going to happen this way. The Republican idea of big intrusive government is suspiciously beginning to appear as if that applies to government the right doesn't control. In all honesty I truly can not believe what I'm seeing and hearing. I can only conclude the Republican party thinks government is nothing more than some kind of game that really doesn't effect any real people. It's like they think their playing Sim City or something.
If all the this isn't bad enough there's still Donald Trump. This morning I watched The Donald spout his birther conspiracy theories on three different networks. I kept trying to compute the too real fact this idiocy has propelled him to number two in Republican presidential polls. I keep saying to myself. "Seriously, this cannot be happening." And yet it is. One of the reasons I think it is happening is because middle class and poor White people still look in the mirror and see themselves as potential Donald Trumps. They do not see themselves as the equally poor and financially strapped Black or Hispanic person down the street. Wiley ole Donald Trump, the American version of Italy's Berlusconi, is banking on that White delusion and like Berlusconi, will cater to any conservative religious body he can find to support him in that catering. Unlike Berlusconi, I doubt The Donald will get the Vatican seal of approval. He'll have to settle for Chaput and most of the rest of the USCCB. In the meantime Trump can watch the Republican party self destruct over Planned Parenthood while he 'investigates' Obama's birth conspiracy. At least Glen Beck is losing his FOX megaphone.
Right now it is truly embarrassing to be an American. I feel awful for our military personnel and their families who now have the added stress of wondering whether the clowns they work for will actually pay them. How sad is that?
Riders are used by members of Congress to make social policy without going through the regular congressional committee process, or they are used to benefit business interests by specifically blocking the government from spending money to write or enforce certain regulations.
At a late-night White House meeting between the president and key congressional leaders, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) made clear that House Republicans would not approve funding for the government if any money were allowed to flow to Planned Parenthood through legislation known as Title X. “This comes down to women's health issues related to Title X,” a person in the meeting told HuffPost.
******************************************
I have been following the 2011 budget battle with keen interest, wondering how far John Boehner would let the Tea Party fringe control the Republican party. Apparently all the way to a government shutdown over birth control pills for middle income and poor women. It is incomprehensible to me that Boehner & Co would deprive our active military--the real warriors--of their pay checks so some right wing culture warriors can determine which women will and will not get access to reproductive health care. If this isn't big government intrusion, I don't what is. If this doesn't threaten national security, I don't what does. If this isn't all about diverting people from other cuts in this budget, I don't why the fuss.
If the Tea Party was supposed to save America from big government, it surely isn't going to happen this way. The Republican idea of big intrusive government is suspiciously beginning to appear as if that applies to government the right doesn't control. In all honesty I truly can not believe what I'm seeing and hearing. I can only conclude the Republican party thinks government is nothing more than some kind of game that really doesn't effect any real people. It's like they think their playing Sim City or something.
If all the this isn't bad enough there's still Donald Trump. This morning I watched The Donald spout his birther conspiracy theories on three different networks. I kept trying to compute the too real fact this idiocy has propelled him to number two in Republican presidential polls. I keep saying to myself. "Seriously, this cannot be happening." And yet it is. One of the reasons I think it is happening is because middle class and poor White people still look in the mirror and see themselves as potential Donald Trumps. They do not see themselves as the equally poor and financially strapped Black or Hispanic person down the street. Wiley ole Donald Trump, the American version of Italy's Berlusconi, is banking on that White delusion and like Berlusconi, will cater to any conservative religious body he can find to support him in that catering. Unlike Berlusconi, I doubt The Donald will get the Vatican seal of approval. He'll have to settle for Chaput and most of the rest of the USCCB. In the meantime Trump can watch the Republican party self destruct over Planned Parenthood while he 'investigates' Obama's birth conspiracy. At least Glen Beck is losing his FOX megaphone.
Right now it is truly embarrassing to be an American. I feel awful for our military personnel and their families who now have the added stress of wondering whether the clowns they work for will actually pay them. How sad is that?
There are 9 additional riders which, to my knowledge, also remain a sticking point in the negotiations. They, like the Planned Parenthood tripe, wouldn't change the fiscal cost of the continuing resolution. Instead, they give corporations free license to rape the land (the anti-PP rider allows them to pillage the women).
ReplyDeleteHighlights include mandating the EPA stop monitoring mountaintop-removal coal mining, stop cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and stop limiting greenhouse gas emissions from ANY stationary source for ANY reason. (complete list here).
All of this is designed to be a poison-pill for the CR...something so egregious and unpalatable that no self-respecting Donkey could vote for it. I think the only thing they missed is something about kicking blue-dog puppies.
Like any of these riders have anything to do with balancing the budget. The EPA riders are equally as bad, I just have my own agendas which color my writing. At least I can admit that. :)
ReplyDeleteI think our supposed "leaders" have lost their collective and individual minds. Like the Bourbon monarchs Louis XVIII and Charles X, they have forgotten nothing and learned nothing from their experiences, and if reality doesn't match their beliefs, they will simply alter their reality to suit themselves.
ReplyDeleteI heard that the "our military won't get paid" theme is meant to cover up that the bill would approve ALL Pentagon spending-meaning no cuts to the Defense budget whatsoever-just us peasants.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile our disabled adult son is about to become homeless. Under SSI rules, he must find affordable housing within his income. He is on a (long)waiting list for subsidized housing but since he requires a ramp and accessible bathroom, we have been helping with his rent until he gets in. He was cut $200.mo because SS found out we were helping so now is about to be evicted as he cannot pay rent. They will not restore the $200 even when we signed a letter that we would not help pay the rent-because his rent is more than his SSI!Once he is homeless the $200 will be restored. But--no accessible shelters here so he will have to go to a nursing home which will cost thousands every month! We have gone to Social Security office-lovely folks but "it's the rules" and our Senator's office-same answer!
coolmom, I used to deal with that kind of insanity all the time with mental health clients on SSDI. It makes a person want to cry over real government stupidity, not the kind Boehner brings on himself.
ReplyDeleteI too have noticed the almost dead silence on the defense budget. I have heard a few Republicans talking about cutting defense after Ryan's plan came out and the collective response was utterly negative.