Writing about continuing resolutions and debt ceilings makes me want to claw my eyeballs out. But there is one thing worth talking about. The Democrats have two main choices in how they proceed. They can pass a so-called “clean” continuing resolution to keep the government operating until December 15th at sequestration levels, or they can pass a bill that is more to their liking that increases funding in certain priority areas.
The administration seems to favor the first approach, and the reason is kind of obvious. If the government is going to shut down, the administration wants all the blame to fall on the Republicans. They don’t want the Republicans to be able to argue that the Democrats were trying to defy the Budget Control Act of 2011 or make unreasonable demands. They want it to be clear that the government shut down solely because the Republicans oppose ObamaCare.
But a lot of progressives want to fight for more spending now as leverage for the battle that happens after the government shuts down. It’s partly a fight for principle and partly a strategic judgment.
Which side do you think has the better argument?
