After more than five weeks of a government shutdown, there are signs that the gridlock will be lifted, pending the House vote and Trump’s signature. This is both good news and bad news, a compromise or capitulation, or total collapse, depending on the comments from some Democratic leaders.
A celebratory mood prevailed among Democrats after the recent election, with the party delivering a decisive blow to the Trump team; however, there now appears to be a return to the division that has hampered the Democrats for months.
On the one hand, the Senate, with the help of several Democrats, has agreed to a plan to fund the government through the end of the year, with no intention of extending health care subsidies. For several months, the Democrats were determined to remain steadfast against caving in to the Republicans’ demand to enforce their “Big Ugly” bill without protective measures for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its subsidies, which are scheduled to expire in January.
However, the recent 60-40 vote, with seven Democrats and an Independent siding with the Republicans, sends the bill to the Representatives. And that’s like having the fox guard the hen house. Remember the old song and its lyrics: “You got to give a little, take a little, and let your poor heart break a little.” Well, that’s more than the story of love; it seems to be the swan song for the Democratic Party.