The Tampa Tribune published a guest editorial by Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL09) which proposed a legislative solution to the “Wild West” form of government-by-shutdown we are once more witnessing this week.
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson: Time to shut down government shutdowns
Republicans shut down the federal government two years ago over unfounded objections to the Affordable Care Act, a program that’s provided health coverage to 16 million uninsured Americans.
Later, right-wing members of Congress threatened another shutdown to protest President Obama’s push to shield nearly 5 million immigrants from deportation.
Now, these same tea party extremists are threatening yet another government stoppage if Congress doesn’t relent on the latest of their unseemly demands — to cut off health care services for poor women.
This is no way to govern, and it’s criminal to run a 21st century economy this way. Let’s put an end to it. If Congress passes my Shut Down the Shutdowns Act, we can stop this mad ritual forever.
My bill would automatically extend the existing appropriation levels for one fiscal year, when Congress fails to fund an agency before its money expires.
The “default setting” would no longer be a government shutdown. It would simply be to maintain the existing budget. There would be no more shutdowns.
We have to remove this hostage-taking ploy from our polity. If we don’t, it’s middle- and working-class families who will suffer.
The last shutdown in 2013 disrupted the lives of countless Americans, and made financial markets tremble with uncertainty.
It took $24 billion out of the economy, and $4 billion in tax refunds were delayed, according to the Office of Management and Budget. And 120,000 jobs were lost. We may be heading toward a similar calamity in the coming weeks.
Even if we manage to dodge a shutdown this year, when will the next right-wing policy obsession turn into a federal government time-out? Do we have to put our economy at risk, year after year?
Brandishing the “shutdown” gun at the close of every fiscal year is a depraved, “Wild West” way to run this country. America’s founders certainly never intended for the government to be subjected to such annual closure threats.
The Shut Down the Shutdowns Act would erase this threat. Let’s shut down the shutdowns once and for all.
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson represents Florida’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Osceola County, as well as parts of Orange and Polk. He is a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Here's a link to the guest editorial.
