So, we’ll have a two-week extension (roll call), but then what?:
While the freshmen members disagree within their own caucus over which specific programs need to be cut, they agree that the government should reduce its role substantially in areas ranging from environmental regulations and education to public broadcasting and the arts. They feel that their credibility is on the line.
“This is not just some academic exercise for me,” said Representative Todd Rokita, a freshman from Indiana. “I am trying to actually shrink scope and size of government.”
He added, “If Harry Reid comes back and says no spending cuts, no nothing, at that point I feel I have no choice given what I ran on, given what I got 70 percent of the vote on, I have to shut down the government.”
Of course, Harry Reid isn’t going to come back with no cuts. But the Republicans’ plan for cutting the deficit is projected to slow economic growth by 1.5-2% (per Goldman Sachs) and cost at least a million jobs (per the Economic Policy Institute). It’s a terrible plan, it’s bad economic policy, the people will hate the consequences (evidence here), and so it isn’t going to happen. The Democrats are afraid about the debt ceiling, but they are almost relishing a government shutdown. But do you want to play chicken with these tea-baggers?
It’s almost guaranteed to end in a car-wreck. But we have the president, and that’s a bigger car.
