Politics
Domestic and global challenges continue to hamper Obama agenda
Americans without health insurance can begin to register for markets in each state which will be subsidized by the federal government from October 1. However some hardline Republicans, who have held 40 symbolic votes to repeal Obama’s healthcare legislation, have vowed to block any budget which provides funding for the scheme.
Thomas Mann, a Congressional scholar, at the Brookings Institution said the Republicans would be making a disastrous strategic move if they pursued a government shutdown.
“The Republicans have as much leverage as a suicide bomber,” he told reporters.
“If they are willing to see their party damaged possibly beyond repair, they could inflict real harm on the country.
“I am encouraged by the increasing number of Republican voices calling the Tea Party strategy crazy and suicidal.”
Obama, who will conduct a whistle-stop bus tour on Thursday and Friday to outline his vision for the economy, warned against a shutdown.
“The idea that you would shut down the government unless you prevent 30 million people from getting health care is a bad idea,” Obama said during a press conference on August 9.
“What you should be thinking about is how can we advance and improve ways for middle-class families to have some security so that if they work hard, they can get ahead and their kids can get ahead.”
Obama wants to scrap tax breaks for the wealthy and reform the corporate tax code while investing in infrastructure and education, measures the Republicans are opposed to.
The chronic failure of both sides to find common ground on taxes already led to the budget sequester in March which forced spending cuts to a range of federal programs. The threat of fiscal crisis has also been heightened by the need to raise the debt ceiling, another prerogative of Congress which the Republicans are in a position to block. The Treasury has warned they will run out of options to prevent a default by mid-October.
