There is one enduring observation about contemporary party politics that serves as a guide to those perplexed by the actions of our politicians: whereas Democrats harness their base to advance the party’s liberal agenda, the Republican establishment works to undermine, deceive, and disenfranchise its own base the minute they have pocketed their support in the general election.
Everything else makes sense once you internalize this observation.
The latest artifice from the GOP establishment is on display this week with their newest plan to make an end-run around the base and fund Planned Parenthood. This time they plan to highjack the budget reconciliation process and make it a shiny object for defunding Planned Parenthood, while ensuring that the final budget bill – the operative one funding the rest of the government – contains no such prohibition.
For clarity’s sake, it’s important to distinguish between a “budget bill” and a budget reconciliation bill. A budget bill is an appropriations bill – the operative bill that funds government – whether in individual appropriations bills or catch-all bills, such as omnibus bills and Continuing Resolutions. These are “must pass” bills and represent the strongest leverage for the opposition party in control of Congress to utilize in pursuit of critical or emergency policy priorities. Also, like any piece of legislation, these bills can be filibustered by the minority party in the Senate.
(Excerpt) Read more at conservativereview.com ...
