Everyone that knows anything about politics knew this is exactly how it would work out. It has been political theater the enter time. That's why the financial markets didn't flinch, they knew it would never come to default. The politicians are playing stupid games with gullible people, and they aren't doing it to serve their constituents. They are doing it to serve themselves and their corporate donors.
If this isn't proof of a broken system that fails to serve the people, I don't know what is.
Exactly ... and if you're in the US, you really have to think about who you're voting for. I'm not voting for incumbents in November - period! There's no point in having an agenda when NOTHING is working anyway, so we might as well elect individuals (in either party) who might actually do their jobs!
I thought the issue was in the House, and this does not say that the House's game of chicken is over and anything has been resolved there, merely that "some" republicans are joining the democrats. Can someone explain why this item means good news?
The House has enough Democrats and swing Republicans to pass a bill to avoid the default and reopen the gov't, the problem right now is even the Republicans (who control the house) can't agree on a bill to put up for a vote (or at least agree on one that will pass the democrat controlled senate). There's literally nothing to vote on.
If the Senate agrees on a bill and it gets put up for a vote in the House it will probably get through with all the dems and enough Republicans to pass.
The primary reason the House has been a deal-stopper so far is more because of Boehner's resistance to bring bills to the floor unless they would be supported by a majority of the House Republicans regardless of whether they'd pass a floor vote.
It's assuming (IMO correctly) that it will be too politically difficult for Boehner to prevent the Senate's bill from coming to the floor of the House and being voted on.
In the House vote, it's likely the most conservative House members will still vote against it, but there should be more than enough votes for it to be passed (with the House votes coming from moderate Republicans + all/nearly all Democrats).
"It remains unclear whether the Senate bill can muster enough votes in the Republican-led House to pass before the 17 October deadline."
The US has actually defaulted a couple of times. During the War of 1812 (duh, war) and in 1979 (glitch?!?). About half the debt limit raises have had other terms ("dirty").
I should mention debt limit and paying service on the debt are separate things and the US still has enough income every month to service the debt, but they tend to get put together to add to the stress.
The "problem" is that the House, the Senate, and the President (unless a veto is overcome) all have to agree- and so far, that hasn't happened. The Dems have a pretty good PR department, and are doing a good job of spinning it as though it is a problem with the (Republican led) House, though.
When you to want reform an institution, you need to make sure you don't replace the bad with the worse.
The main asshat in Congress stirring the pot and helping cause this dissention is a first term senator: Ted Cruz. What we have is a bunch of new regressive "reformers" that are actually being funded by the Koch brothers and people of their ilk, that think destroying the government is a good thing.
The Origination Clause, sometimes called the Revenue Clause, is part of the United States Constitution. This clause says that all bills for raising revenue must start in the House of Representatives, but the Senate can amend them as in the case of non-revenue bills.
One of Ronald Reagan's most famous quotes was from a propaganda piece against Medicare, about how it would end freedom in the country... but when he became president he expanded it. Being President has a way to change one's perspective.
[+] [-] tenpoundhammer|12 years ago|reply
If this isn't proof of a broken system that fails to serve the people, I don't know what is.
[+] [-] smoyer|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gnarbarian|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dmazin|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mikeryan|12 years ago|reply
If the Senate agrees on a bill and it gets put up for a vote in the House it will probably get through with all the dems and enough Republicans to pass.
[+] [-] andy112|12 years ago|reply
It's assuming (IMO correctly) that it will be too politically difficult for Boehner to prevent the Senate's bill from coming to the floor of the House and being voted on.
In the House vote, it's likely the most conservative House members will still vote against it, but there should be more than enough votes for it to be passed (with the House votes coming from moderate Republicans + all/nearly all Democrats).
[+] [-] protomyth|12 years ago|reply
The US has actually defaulted a couple of times. During the War of 1812 (duh, war) and in 1979 (glitch?!?). About half the debt limit raises have had other terms ("dirty").
I should mention debt limit and paying service on the debt are separate things and the US still has enough income every month to service the debt, but they tend to get put together to add to the stress.
[+] [-] ecoffey|12 years ago|reply
But yes, this still needs to get through the house, and if it does we've just kicked the can to Jan.
[+] [-] ensignavenger|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] known|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ck2|12 years ago|reply
Then part 3 later in 2014.
Sadly the elections won't fix this because of gerrymandering which is worse than any amount of money in politics.
The House will always be toxic because of it. Senators cannot play that game which is why they tend to be slightly more sane.
[+] [-] jskonhovd|12 years ago|reply
https://code.google.com/p/redistricter/
[+] [-] angersock|12 years ago|reply
Vote early, vote often.
[+] [-] xradionut|12 years ago|reply
The main asshat in Congress stirring the pot and helping cause this dissention is a first term senator: Ted Cruz. What we have is a bunch of new regressive "reformers" that are actually being funded by the Koch brothers and people of their ilk, that think destroying the government is a good thing.
[+] [-] badman_ting|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pyrocat|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Aloisius|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vaadu|12 years ago|reply
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origination_Clause
The Origination Clause, sometimes called the Revenue Clause, is part of the United States Constitution. This clause says that all bills for raising revenue must start in the House of Representatives, but the Senate can amend them as in the case of non-revenue bills.
[+] [-] chaosphere2112|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vaadu|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] MisterBastahrd|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dancecodes|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ihsw|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dancecodes|12 years ago|reply
Lets open kickstarter or something else.