| | | | Governing from crisis to crisis isn't governing | | Whether or not Congress makes a deal to avoid a government shutdown before midnight tonight, they've already failed.
The most basic job of Congress is to approve bills that fund the many activities and operations of the federal government. In an ideal world, Congress would approve a year's worth of government spending so that agencies could do some mid- and long-range planning.
That hasn't happened in years. Twenty years to be exact, according to the non-partisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Instead, Congress has increasingly resorted to continuing resolutions -- short-term Band-aids to keep the government funded.
Since the start of Fiscal Year 1998, there have been -- wait for it -- 112(!) continuing resolutions to keep the government running.
The result of using a Band-aid to try to stop a gaping wound -- i.e., a task for which it was never intended -- is that our Congress winds up lurching from crisis to crisis, each one separated by increasingly shorter amounts of time.
Consider the debate earlier this week: A month-long continuing resolution was dismissed as impossible, with several senators floating a two-week -- or even five-day -- CR. Five days!
The simple fact is that even if a deal gets cuts tonight to keep the government open, we will almost certainly be right back at the brink of shutdown in five days or two weeks or a month. Passing any sort of continuing resolution won't preserve the DACA program or provide funding for President Donald Trump's much-ballyhooed border wall. It won't change the dynamic at all.
Fights delayed are not fights avoided. They are just fights delayed.
The Point: Governing from crisis to crisis isn't governing. It's punting -- and punting and punting. And no one wins when all you do is punt.
-- Chris | |  | | It wouldn't be DC without some themed drinks surrounding current political events. In this particular case, Capitol Lounge tweeted that it will be offering special government shutdown drinks starting at 12:01 a.m. | | | We -- the Point team: Chris, Saba, Brenna Williams and Leigh Munsil -- made a "Shutdown"-themed playlist on Spotify. You know, just in case. BONUS: This isn't on Spotify since it's from "Saturday Night Live," but it's a throwback to Miley Cyrus on SNL singing "We Did Stop" in 2013 (after the last shutdown). | | This weekend marks the anniversary of the Inaugural Women's March, which millions across the globe participated in last year. This year, the Women's March organizers are utilizing the momentum from the past year to focus on getting people to the polls for the 2018 midterms. There will be marches held across the United States, of course, but also a huge "Power to the Polls" initiative, which kicks off in Las Vegas on Sunday. For more coverage:
-Read Saba's stories about why Women's March organizers chose Nevada; and why there are some internal divisions within the Women's March movement.
-Check out CNN's Emanuella Grinberg piece on nationwide efforts to encourage voter participation in local communities.
-Watch CNN's documentary, "Women Who March: The Movement."
-Most importantly: Follow along on CNN.com and CNN's social media accounts all weekend for updates from reporters around the United States. | | The 45th annual March for Life took place Friday. The anti-abortion march is held in Washington and has taken place every year since 1974. This year, President Trump and Vice President Pence joined the event via video satellite from the White House Rose Garden. CNN's Betsy Klein sent us this dispatch:
During his speech, Trump, the first sitting president to address the March for Life, touted his administration's pro-life policies, which he said "are protecting the sanctity of life."
"I want to thank every person here today and all across our country who works ... to make sure that parents have the care and support they need to choose life," he said, surrounded by a Rose Garden crowd of pro-life leaders and students, many dressed in matching hats and t-shirts, on the crisp January day. "Because of you, tens of thousands of Americans have been born and can fulfill their God-given potential."
Ahead of his remarks, Trump's Department of Health and Human Services announced that the administration was rescinding an Obama-era Medicaid guideline that limited the way states could take action against medical providers that provide abortion services. | | Former FBI Director James Comey will teach a course on ethical leadership at the College of William & Mary beginning in the fall, CNN's Tammy Kupperman and Veronica Stracqualursi reported Friday.
Comey, an alum of William & Mary, will co-teach the course with Drew Stelljes, executive assistant professor of education and assistant vice president for student leadership. The course will be held in fall 2018 and spring and summer 2019.
"Ethical leaders lead by seeing above the short term, above the urgent or the partisan, and with a higher loyalty to lasting values, most importantly the truth," Comey said in an article on the Virginia college's website. "Building and maintaining that kind of leadership, in both the private sector and government, is the challenge of our time."
Read more in CNN's full story here. | | The Justice Department filed a notice Friday to re-try Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey on bribery and corruption charges. A trial last fall resulted in a hung jury. Menendez pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In other court-related news: The Supreme Court said Friday that it would take up a challenge to the latest version of President Donald Trump's travel ban. Oral arguments are scheduled to be heard in April.
Read more about Menendez in Laura Jarrett's story here and more about the travel ban hearing in Ariane de Vogue's story here. | | | Congrats on surviving a very long week. As always, remind your friends and family to subscribe to The Point. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment