The Senate Goes On Vacation When It Counts ..

Senate Leaves Itself Four Days to Avoid a Shutdown ....


      In case you ever thought that Congress has fixed it's f**ked up priorities, let us give you a reminder that very often, things don't change... Always ones to not worry about anything until the absolute last second (ie: Social Security, Medicaid), the Senate - the place where good legislation goes to die - has decided that the March 4 deadline for a government shutdown is not a big deal either.  


      The House of Representatives has at least addressed the need for budget cuts by passing a $61 billion package. Faced with either accepting that package, which rarely happens, or shutting down the Federal Government, the Senate will still take a week's vacation until February 28th, giving it all of 4 days to make a budget, or close house. No, we didn't think 96 hours is much time to finish a $3.7 Trillion package either...



     Now, the first question: is $61 billion too much to cut, not enough, or just right?  In our view, it doesn't matter much. As we think was essentially proven with the Economic Stimulus bill, $61 billion is a veritible spit in the ocean of the Federal Budget - less than 1.5%, that would be the equivalent of me cutting $30 a month from my personal budget.  What the government is asking to do is like me skipping one night out a month. It ain't much.  In comparison to the US Economy, $61 billion is nothing.  It always amazes us how they can spend hundreds of billions at the drop of a hat, but cutting a tenth of that amount will ruin the economy and kill people.  If done right, none of that will happen...


    Will this be done by March 4th? We doubt it, but it may be done not much afterwards.  After all, Harry Reid still runs the Senate, and we have the feeling that he will let it shutdown in an attempt to make the Republicans look bad.  Like most of what he's done lately, it will backfire a bit.  It will only make the Senate look bad, and they will hammer out a compromise of about $45 billion a day or two late... As usual.



    Maybe Reid and the Senate Republicans have a tentative deal already worked out, and they're waiting for next week to add drama to the deal. Personally, we have enough drama. We don't want any from DC - we like it quiet there... Our guess is they don't, and they will be a bit surprised if they don't work it out - and the people react harshly.  We're sure they'll use BS excuses like they 'need to meet their constituents', but it's kinda like taking midterms right after Spring Break... When you went to Hedonism II.  Sometimes vaca's need to be canceled or delayed. This would have been a good time for that, but DC doesn't work that way....

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