The Budget Impasse
As expected, the Senate on Wednesday rejected budget cutting plans from both Democrats and Republicans, leaving eight days to figure out a way forward before the next government shutdown deadline.
Republicans for the most part stuck together on a $61 billion package of budget cuts approved by the House last month, as they mustered 44 votes for that plan.
Democrats – even with a majority of Senators – only had 42 votes for their package of $4.7 billion in cuts for the rest of this fiscal year.
10 Democrats, 1 Independent and 3 Republicans voted against both plans – the GOP Senators did so because they wanted more cuts – many on the Democratic side because they wanted something that splits the difference.
“Really, the sweet spot is somewhere in between these two approaches,” said Sen. Clare McCaskill (D-MO).
The fact that Democrats only had 42 votes for their plan was a bit of a surprise, as Bennet (CO), Hagen (NC), Kohn (WI), Levin (MI), Manchin (WV), McCaskill (MO), Nelson (NE), Nelson (FL), Sanders (I-VT), Udall (CO) and Webb (VA) voted against both budgets.
Three GOP Senators were ‘No’ votes on both bills – Lee of Utah, Paul of Kentucky and DeMint of South Carolina – as Republicans stuck to their message.
“We cannot continue to spend money we don’t have,” said Sen. John Thune (R-ND).
So – what now?
There are eight days until a temporary budget plan runs out on March 18. The chances of a deal through the end of this fiscal year before then is most likely a long shot.
That likely means another short term budget, which like the current one, would have $2 billion in cutbacks for each week.
The word in the halls of the Capitol is that Republicans will release that plan on Friday.
A two week budget would get us to April 1. The problem with that is the House will be gone the first of those two weeks, meaning that a two week stop gap budget will probably mean another right after it.
This is a game of chicken that should really start to get interesting in the month of April.
Who blinks first? Who gives a little? Who offers a deal? Will the White House offer a plan?
Stay tuned.
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4 comments Add your comment
Johns Creek Resident
March 10th, 2011
7:33 am
That was a waste of time. Harry Reid staged those votes knowing the outcome ahead of time. If the President has not been serious about the budget, why should the Senators? Have those who paid their federal taxes recently wondered how their tax money will be wasted this year?
joe
March 10th, 2011
9:15 am
Shut the govt down…they won’t do what we sent them there to do anyway…CUT.
BW
March 10th, 2011
9:18 am
Johns Creek Resident
Tax money gets wasted every year but it’s Harry Reid’s fault for holding votes he knows won’t pass? At least it’s in the open and not in the closed rooms…or do you prefer them to have the votes decided before they come up? To your point no one is serious about the budget….politics always trump governing and all the little tricks have been played.
JF McNamara
March 10th, 2011
10:35 am
I didn’t send them there to cut. I sent them there to govern responsably. We’ve spent like drunken sailors since Reagan took office and skyrocketed the deficit, and to think we can solve our issues in a year (or five) is absurb. Pass something reasonable and try to create a bridge forward. Shutting down the government will do nothing more than be a political hack job that hurts constituents.