It seems unlikely that Senate Republicans and the White House will be able to reach a deal with House Democrats on extending the relief programs. The reasons for this are a combination of ideology and incompetence on the Republican side. Democrats realize that the necessary aid for people as opposed to businesses will not command a Republican majority in either house of Congress. Democratic votes are necessary for anything to pass. They are properly using that leverage to make sure they get a solid bill.
If they are unable to reach consensus on a compromise piece of legislation, the turmoil will be real. While the GOP will try and pin this on Pelosi, the fact is that the party that controls the White House will always pay the price for economic suffering. Amazingly, Trump is barely above water in his polling on the economy. (Amazing because he should be a net negative.) It is the only metric that he is positive in (he's -14% on foreign policy, once a GOP strength; he's -20 on Covid; he's overall job approval is -12%). If the economy craters in a 1932-33 death spiral, it means Trump loses Texas, Georgia and Kansas. Maybe Missouri. It sweeps in a Democratic Senate.
It's callous to inflict economic pain on guiltless Americans for political gain, and I understand why Democrats don't want to do that. I understand why they will want to pass something, anything to help Americans. But now is the time for hardball. Fund the Postal Service and mail-in voting. Do rent relief. Extend UI benefits. Dream big. And if the GOP blocks it, let them reap the whirlwind.
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