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peacebird

(14,195 posts)
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 08:55 AM Mar 2015

Tired of shutdown battles? This bill would end them for good

Source: Washington post

Tired of fretting about government shutdowns? Budget lapses would be a thing of the past under a new proposal from a House Democrat who wants to put an end to them for good.

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) said this week that he is seeking co-sponsors for a “Shut Down the Shutdowns Act” that would automatically extend existing appropriations levels for another fiscal year whenever Congress fails to fund agencies before their money expires.

“It changes the default from shutdown to the same budget,” Grayson said during an interview with The Post on Tuesday. “I don’t think the founders ever intended us to face one shutdown after another.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/03/05/tired-of-shutdown-battles-this-bill-would-end-them-for-good/?hpid=z2



Absolutely LOVE this idea!
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Tired of shutdown battles? This bill would end them for good (Original Post) peacebird Mar 2015 OP
Perfect! n/t RKP5637 Mar 2015 #1
Grayson might be the one guy who could win enough Republican support to get this passed. Scuba Mar 2015 #2
I hope so.... peacebird Mar 2015 #3
I love Grayson, a good guy from FL. lark Mar 2015 #18
Of course he should pursue it. Even if it fails, our side can point out our efforts every time ... Scuba Mar 2015 #19
K&R.... daleanime Mar 2015 #4
I would be fine with legislators shutting down the government iemitsu Mar 2015 #5
:) peacebird Mar 2015 #6
That would be fine if "the government" only consisted of annabanana Mar 2015 #10
Yes they are, and that's exactly why they should be forced to resign iemitsu Mar 2015 #22
K & R SunSeeker Mar 2015 #7
I don't support it. hughee99 Mar 2015 #8
I totally agree. obxhead Mar 2015 #9
might be more effective.. annabanana Mar 2015 #11
Unfortunately, most congresscritters have become millionairs Stonepounder Mar 2015 #12
Except you can't do that because it's unconstitutional. Action_Patrol Mar 2015 #15
Hmm good point A Little Weird Mar 2015 #14
Good idea? Bad idea? old guy Mar 2015 #13
I am tempted! oldandhappy Mar 2015 #16
Snowballs, hell, etc. drm604 Mar 2015 #17
One Question... Sparhawk60 Mar 2015 #20
Absolutely love this idea madokie Mar 2015 #21

lark

(23,003 posts)
18. I love Grayson, a good guy from FL.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 02:23 PM
Mar 2015
Love this concept, but I can't see the Repugs passing this. They WANT to have a serious threat to use against the president and this would eliminate that. Of course, it would also exist when (IF?) a Repug was president, but they just can't look past Obama. Do think Grayson should pursue this anyway, it makes a great statement about making government work vs. government being dysfunctional.
 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
19. Of course he should pursue it. Even if it fails, our side can point out our efforts every time ...
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 04:42 PM
Mar 2015

... the Repukes try to pull their shutdown scam.


Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Wall Street made them do it.

iemitsu

(3,888 posts)
5. I would be fine with legislators shutting down the government
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 09:36 AM
Mar 2015

if it meant that we got to elect new representatives.
The ones who shut it down have admitted they can't or won't do the job so they should step down if they can't fulfill the job they were elected to do.
Then we could choose others, who might get the job done.

annabanana

(52,791 posts)
10. That would be fine if "the government" only consisted of
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 11:19 AM
Mar 2015

Congress and the Pres.

Millions of people's lives are disrupted every time this happens.

iemitsu

(3,888 posts)
22. Yes they are, and that's exactly why they should be forced to resign
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 10:08 AM
Mar 2015

if they conclude that shutting the government down is the best they can do.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
8. I don't support it.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 10:02 AM
Mar 2015

Congress's job is to pass a budget and fund the various departments. A president or congress could decide they like the old budget just fine and force this policy into action. Yes, some people think it's a good idea now, but may feel differently when an older funding plan benefits the republican agenda. I very much dislike the idea of congress passing rules about things that happen "automatically", because we end up with shitty policy and everyone in congress saying, don't blame me, I didn't vote for it, like the sequestration.

 

obxhead

(8,434 posts)
9. I totally agree.
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 10:30 AM
Mar 2015

A better option would be a to freeze the assets of congress and stop their pay until the budget is resolved.

There would never be risk of shutdown again.

Stonepounder

(4,033 posts)
12. Unfortunately, most congresscritters have become millionairs
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 11:25 AM
Mar 2015

so cutting their pay wouldn't matter to them, they probably wouldn't even notice. So long, of course, they still got the funds to pay their staffers.

A Little Weird

(1,754 posts)
14. Hmm good point
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 11:29 AM
Mar 2015

I think they should automatically extend the existing budget for one week at a time but require Congress to remain in session without pay until they get the new budget passed. There must be some way to actually force them to do their job.

old guy

(3,281 posts)
13. Good idea? Bad idea?
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 11:27 AM
Mar 2015

Irrelevant as it will never see the light of day with this House. Shutdown is a very powerful propaganda tool for the right wing crazies. The fact that it has accomplished nothing is no problem for them. It supplies red meat for their base.

oldandhappy

(6,719 posts)
16. I am tempted!
Thu Mar 5, 2015, 11:49 AM
Mar 2015

Would like to see Congress have to give up their paychecks also if something expires without 'decision' i.e. refund or cancel with a vote. Definitely we need to stop the shut downs -- very expensive and very unsettling.

 

Sparhawk60

(359 posts)
20. One Question...
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 07:43 AM
Mar 2015

The article did not say if it would extend the actual dollar amount of the budget for the last year, or will they add in the 'normal increases". Ff they kept the dollar amount static, this would be great way to slowly bring the budget under control.

I have read to many articles talking about 'cutting military spending" just to read military spending will still increase, they are just cut the the rate of increase.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
21. Absolutely love this idea
Fri Mar 6, 2015, 07:57 AM
Mar 2015

Gotta love Grayson. If ever we had someone on our side he is it.

Hey Alan why don't you come back and share ideas with us here on DU like you used to, bro'. You would be amongst friends here.

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