The stalemate between the Republicans and Democrats in Congress, which has had the government effectively shut down for more than 24 days (so far, and counting, sadly) has got to end, and quickly, before any more real harm to our country ensues.
The Republicans passed a basic continuing resolution in the House by a strictly party-line vote. The Democrats in the Senate blocked that resolution, again along party lines, since it would take a few senators from the Democratic side to vote in favor of said resolution for it to be sent to the president for his signature and allow the government to operate again. This impasse has taken time and energy away from any other legislative and administrative actions that are important to various segments of the population, and needs to be resolved.
As I understand it, the Democrats have some reservations concerning the funding of some health care subsidies and tax credits, as well as Medicaid eligibility requirements, which they would like to see addressed in the resolution, but the Republicans in the Senate refuse to even discuss those points, demanding that their bill is the only way to reopen the government. That bill has been brought to the Senate floor for debate and votes more than 10 times with no change in the result. A man much wiser than I am once noted that doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. It’s well past time for the Republicans to try another tack.
My recommendation to those in power in the Senate — not that they give a whit about what you, or I, or any of us they are supposed to represent think — would be for those on the Republican side to agree to at least hear the Democrats’ argument. Once they meet, the Republicans should ask for clarifications on what the Democrats’ proposal actually contains, clearing up the misunderstandings and outright misleading and totally false assumptions about what is in the proposal, and then requesting any changes that they feel are needed. A serious discussion on those points should follow. That process is called negotiation. It is the basis for our form of government.
An agreement, also known as a compromise (not a dirty word) could then be agreed to, and the government would once again work as it was proposed by the Founding Fathers. Much to all of our benefit.
— Bill Kennedy, Taneytown
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