At What Cost?

By: The Daily Sheeple

Without funding, we can't function. Without a plan, we shut down. When working on the latest appropriations bill - a bill with regards to spending - Congress had the tight deadline of Friday at midnight to get the passed bill to the desk of the President in order to avoid a Government shutdown.

Unfortunately in this case, Congress was unable to pass the necessary spending bill prior to the deadline and thus, the government shutdown that lasted the weekend. So, who is to blame for the the shutdown? Well, depending on who you ask, there are people on both sides of the line to blame. However, either way, what ever happened to putting the American people first? Doesn't the Constitution state of the people, by the people, for the people? So when did every government decision become about furthering party agendas and ensuring reelection?

Both parties knew that with the nearing deadline to pass the new spending bill, it served as the perfect opportunity to sell their own agendas in order to avoid a government shutdown. Now government shutdowns do not result in the entire government stopping (military and law enforcement does not stop), rather all "nonessential" government employees are sent home without pay, which makes up roughly 40% of non-military employees, only the shutdown merely lasted the weekend, both parties agreeing on a bill to re-open the government Monday afternoon. So what was the cause for all of this turmoil that most of America deemed unnecessary?

Progressive activists, who have been advocates for DREAMers (recipients of DACA) have recently been demanding that Democrats fight harder to renew DACA - a program protecting undocumented immigrants who came to America as children - they believed that Democrats were not doing everything they could to help the recipients. Democrats realized that with the nearing appropriation bill deadline, they now had leverage over Republicans. They could merely refuse to pass the bill, knowing that without any Democrat votes the bill wouldn't make it through the Senate and force a government shutdown if Republicans refused to put DACA in the bill. Sure enough, during the Friday vote, not a single Democrat voted for the bill and just as planned the bill failed in the Senate, forcing the government shutdown. However, it was not solely the Democratic agenda that caused the shutdown.

By: House Chamber

Republicans knew that with the press for time, Democrats would bring up the reinstatement of DACA, which many Republicans believe President Obama did not have the authority to instate in the first place, and thus slid a few incentives into the bill. When writing the bill, House and Senate Republicans made sure to put in incentives that would make voting 'no' a very unpopular option. The bill contained the suspension of several unpopular healthcare taxes as well as the re-authorization of CHIP - a children's health insurance policy provided to low-income families. By placing these two things into the bill, Republicans were practically daring Democrats to vote no and thus cause the government shutdown.

However, this plan hit a snag when only a few days later President Trump tweeted out that he did not support the inclusion of CHIP into the bill. This alone hurt Republicans as the backlash resulted in some House Republicans voting 'no', but when it reached the Senate, as predicted the vote was split down party lines and thus failed to go through, sealing the fate of the shutdown.

The shutdown didn't last very long though and even that was due to political agendas being carried out by our dear politicians. Each side an incentive for figuring out a quick resolution to the shutdown after both sides used the bill to try and prove a point. Democrats worried that shutting down the government for the sake of undocumented immigrants could paint them as extremists, thus hurting their chances of reelection. Many Democratic senators are facing reelection this year in traditionally "Red" states and thus this shutdown could greatly hinder their chances among the people. On the other side, Republicans face a similar motivation, as they worry their party will be blamed for the shutdown since Republicans control both Congress and the White House. This alone could hurt their chances at reelection. Since this year is the midterm elections, higher incentives are at stake as everyone knows this election will be pivotal in who controls Congress. To further complicate things for Republicans, if the government shutdown was to extend into the work week, only a week before President Trump delivers his "State of the Union Address", it would reflect very poorly on the administration.

By: Pax Ahimsa Gethen

Never mind the fact that all of this affects the lives of the American people, from the DACA decision, to the re-authorization of CHIP, and suspending the unpopular healthcare taxes, our representatives simply need to ensure reelection and party loyalty. Following the temporary agreement reached by both parties, Indivisible, a left-wing advocacy group walked to Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's house to protest saying that if they could not DREAM he would not sleep.

At what point will politicians finally put the American people first? When will policies simply reflect what the people need and not undermine the other party to further an agenda? At what point will we truly be represented?