The U.S. Congress got back to work Tuesday after its summer recess. And while past experience and the current political climate suggest otherwise, it is an occasion for hope that senators and representatives alike can find enough on which to agree that the nation’s business could be properly addressed, particularly with regard to spending.
The signs, however, are not hopeful. What appears to be in store instead is a ridiculous argument about Iran and a wasteful and dangerous fight over Planned Parenthood played out against a fundamental inability to govern.
The Iran issue is a waste of time. President Obama’s supporters have the votes to filibuster any bill to torpedo the agreement as well as the numbers to override his veto of any such attempt.
Beyond that, the agreement includes a half dozen other nations – including Russia – that are not about to back away from the deal on the say of congressional critics. The merits of the deal are debatable, but it is done and it will go forward.
The Planned Parenthood flap is more potentially dangerous. It is – and has been for quite some time – illegal for federal funds to be used to pay for abortions. Knowing this, Planned Parenthood is careful and conscientious about keeping funding for anything to do with abortions separate from its other services. What is more, it knows its critics and abortion opponents are looking over its shoulder and double checking its books for any sign of commingling of federal funds with abortion services.
The upshot is that any cuts to Planned Parenthood funding will come at the expense of its non-abortion-related services. What it would amount to is politicians cutting basic women’s health care so as to look good for anti-abortion voters back home, while knowing full well that move would do nothing to stop abortions. A political stunt, it is cynical and cruel.
Whether Iran or Planned Parenthood, all of that is just for show. The real issue before this Congress is the budget and how to come to some agreement that will allow the country to go forward without another government shutdown.
It is the fear of a shutdown that could provide the basis for agreement. While there are some crazies who favor threatening a shutdown to force their issues, the grown-ups in both parties want no such thing. Neither party can be sure how a shutdown would play out politically and both are focused on the 2016 elections.
The Republicans would most likely suffer if a shutdown were attributable to diehards wanting to cut Planned Parenthood. But shutting down the government could easily backfire on the Democrats if it were seen as a result of their intransigeance on spending. One idea being floated is to allow a vote on cutting Planned Parenthood so that congressional Republicans can take credit for its passage, while at the same time ensuring enough Democrats vote against it to sustain a presidential veto.
With all that, it is easy to forget that the budget issues before Congress are serious and meaningful. There is a contentious highway bill (which, of course, includes a ton of spending on things unrelated to roads), the question of raising the debt ceiling, the automatic budget cuts called sequestration and a major defense policy bill the president has threatened to veto.
These are serious issues worthy of serious consideration. They should not be held hostage to political theater and grandstanding.
