The Daily 202: Government shutdown foreshadows a 2018 of inaction and gridlock

[DonViejo]

Emphasis exists in the original article -- Don

By James Hohmann January 22 at 8:00 AM

THE BIG IDEA: The failed efforts this weekend by moderates to end the government shutdown underscored how poisoned the well has become.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell postponed a largely symbolic vote that was scheduled for 1 a.m. so that his members wouldn’t need to sit around all night. The roll call vote will now take place around noon.

There is some optimism about a deal that could reopen the government until Feb. 8, but it’s also possible that this three-day-old shutdown could drag on for a while. Either way, the impasse foreshadows how little will get done legislatively in the 10 months before the midterm elections.

“Our country was founded by geniuses, but it’s being run by idiots,” Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters on Friday night.

Republican leaders have already punted many items on their wish list, specifically related to overhauling entitlements — the ultimate third rail in American politics.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/01/22/daily-202-government-shutdown-foreshadows-a-2018-of-inaction-and-gridlock/5a65417230fb0469e88402a8/?utm_term=.228caedf8ae0&wpisrc=nl_daily202&wpmm=1