Another stopgap, WTF?

[ProSense]

Democrats' stopgap bill keeps current spending

(Reuters) - A stopgap bill that Democrats hope to pass in the Senate today to avert a shutdown would fund the Pentagon through the rest of the fiscal year and other arms of government for another week at current levels, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said on Friday.

Republicans have indicated they will block a vote on that bill unless it includes additional cuts, or a final agreement has been reached.

It's time for Democrats to tell Republicans to fuck off!

[Inuca]

1. My understanding of this

is that even if they reach an agreement within the next minute, there is no way that they can do everything that needs to be done in the very short time left. So the one week is only to give them time to do the votes, teh conference, whatever. My understanding from trying to follow in between boutsof work is that Reid and Obama would agree to the one week CR ONLY based on an existing agreement.

Or put differently, not agreeing to one at this point would imply a shutdown, so a stopgap is needed to avoid it.

[ProSense]

2. I understand that.

That was the purpose of all the other stop gaps. What are they going to negotiate in a week that they can't negotiate today, after weeks of negotiating?

This is stalling for time to end up in the same place.

On edit:

"My understanding from trying to follow in between boutsof work is that Reid and Obama would agree to the one week CR ONLY based on an existing agreement."

OK, but that requires an agreement. Is there one?

[tritsofme]

3. Because it would be bad politics if the government shuts down and Senate Democrats offered no path

to keep it running.

The House passed their short-term CR, Senate Democrats will move on theirs, and if there is a shutdown, both sides can point fingers at each other while pointing to their own CRs.

[Parker CA]

4. So this won't happen bc the GOP wants any new stopgap to include roughly $12B (I think) in cuts.

Looks like Reid is trying to kill the talking point that the GOP has been using about the Dems being against the troops, but all the while knowing it won't ever happen bc the GOP won't agree to his version of the stopgap. I might be completely off with this understanding though. Either way, another stopgap is an absolute waste of time.

[Hawkowl]

7. Cut military contractors

I'm sure we can find $12 billion easy in contracts to Haliburton, GE, and Xe (formerly Blackwater). If Harry Reid wasn't a spineless piece of excrement, he'd get on tv and state this very fact. Call out GE which paid no taxes and ask them to take the entire $12 billion dollar cut.

[jwirr]

5. I agree this is blackmail and it will keep up every few weeks if we

keep giving in. On the other hand the more they pull this shit the more people are realizing what they are up to. So maybe one more time?

[Donnachaidh]

6. pentagon for a full year - but everyone else a frigging WEEK?

Uhh Harry -- go shit in your hat please.... honestly, this is total bullshit. You don't look good in kabuki makeup. Just stop. :grr:

[damntexdem]

8. Well, in a way this is -- it puts out a Dem stopgap that funds the soldiers.

Stealing the 'thunder' of the House abomination that made that claim.

And there's no chance that the Repukes are actually going to accept it.