"To a lot of people, the prospect of a government shutdown whenever federal funding is on the brink of being interrupted is like the threat of an apocalyptic earthquake: something often discussed but rarely experienced. Somehow or other, even in a time of vast partisan polarization, the politicians find ways to keep the government operating, in part because no one wants to get blamed for the human suffering and widespread inconveniences associated with a shutdown."
"We're facing another "shutdown crisis" at the end of this month as the stopgap spending bill enacted in March expires on September 30. And though we're just a couple of weeks away from the fish-or-cut-bait moment, Republicans and Democrats are not even negotiating over a temporary, much less permanent, resolution. Democrats are acutely aware that a spending bill to keep the government open is their only point of leverage in a Congress where nearly every other kind of business is conducted via special rules that prohibit Senate filibusters. On this and only this occasion, Republicans need Democratic votes. But in a nearly identical situation in March, the GOP offered zero concessions to get those votes, and after lots of empty talk about resistance, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer rounded up enough votes from his party to help Republicans break a brief filibuster and have their way."
A government shutdown is possible when a stopgap spending bill expires on September 30. Democrats control the leverage because a spending bill requires their votes in a Senate constrained by special rules that limit filibusters. Republicans previously offered zero concessions in March, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer secured enough party votes to break a brief filibuster, enabling Republican aims. Democratic activists reacted with fury to that outcome, increasing willingness among Democrats to risk shutdown blame. Democrats largely agree on extending soon-to-expire Obamacare premium subsidies to prevent insurance-cost spikes for millions, while Republicans remain divided on that demand.
Read at Intelligencer
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