Those leaders of the U.S. House and Senate said last November after the elections gave the republican party control of congress, they would lead and not shut down the government. But just this week, both would not rule out doing just that if democrats do not go along with their legislation to block the President's executive order on immigration.
McConnell and Boehner are still bent on running the country and neither have ever received one vote outside of their own state. Their ideology will not allow them to accept the fact that Obama won two national elections. Their goal is still the same as day one, do all they can to oppose any policy the President proposes.
Steve Scalise, Louisiana's rep., in the U.S. House and third in command continues to show his ignorance and little boy attitude concerning the economy and legislation that would work best for the country and its people. His actions show he has learned nothing from his time in the U.S. House during the G.W. Bush years in office when he rubber stamped Bush's failed policies. He too is ready to shut down the government.
President Obama challenged McConnell and Boehner and their party on multiple fronts since the November elections and now holds the high ground. The republican party is in a tizzy over the President's request for authority to fight ISIL. They are pleading with him not to veto the XL Pipe Line legislation they passed. They want desperately to pass something to hang their hat on even if it is bad legislation. (like the 50 plus times they voted to repeal the ACA)
In Scalise's home state of Louisiana the latest figures show over 184,000 citizens have signed up for the ACA with the latest enrollment, close to 83,000 more than in 2014 according to a Times Picayune article dated 2/19. And Scalise and his party still oppose the ACA and have nothing to offer in response and Scalise has been a member of congress since 2008. Maybe he is waiting on instructions from David Duke.
The republican party controlled both houses of congress from 2002-2006 during the Bush 43 administration and everyone is aware how that administration ended up. Federal spending was up every year and no one can remember any progress during that time. They did pass a prescription drug benefit which ended up costing the tax payers over $1 trillion. They said it would not cost over $400 billion.
This writer does not expect any thing progressive to come out of the republican controlled congress unless they believe it will help their party win the White House in 2016.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
