Senate and President Obama to Blame for Partial Government Shutdown

Brian Darling / April 07, 2011

Clearly the United States Senate and the President will be to blame for a partial federal government shutdown if Congress can’t pass a measure to fund the federal government past April 8^th.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will get special blame, primarily because he has not allowed a full and fair debate on H.R. 1, the long-term spending measure that that would cut $61 billion from the budget for the remainder of this fiscal year.  That bill also prevents the funding of elements of ObamaCare, Planned Parenthood and EPA Global Warming regulations.

The President earned a percentage of the blame for his pledge to veto a House passed short-term one week funding measure, further increasing the likelihood of a federal government shutdown.  If one studies the legislative history of the battle over funding the discretionary functions of the government for the remainder of the year, the blame clearly shifts to the United States Senate and the President.

Senator Reid’s obstructionism may cause a government shutdown because of his actions to block full and fair consideration of a long term spending measure. (more…)