Last week, I talked about how Senate Dems were driving Senate Republicans “crazy” by setting up procedural roadblocks that are impeding the GOP agenda. Over the weekend, however, we got a hint from Robert Novak about what the Republicans are willing to do in response.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is being urged by colleagues to threaten to close down the Senate for the rest of the year unless Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle ends his disruptive tactics.
In addition to menacing all judicial nominations, Daschle is now preventing legislation from being sent to Senate-House conferences to resolve differences in bills passed by both Houses unless the outcome is guaranteed.
Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, and other conservatives want Frist to counter Daschle by bringing the business of the Senate to a halt. This would mean passing an omnibus appropriations bill and then awaiting the outcome of the elections. Democrats could not offer their pet amendments, but it also would prevent passage of a budget resolution and, therefore, kill any chance of making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
I’m not usually fond of wacky ideas floated by congressional Republicans, but I think this one sounds terrific. Please, Mr. Frist, listen to Jon Kyl & Co. Shut down the Senate and walk away. That’ll show those rascally Dems.
I don’t want to give away the Dems’ secret desires here, but could there be a better outcome for those of us who oppose the GOP agenda? Off the top of my head, I can think of at least five good reasons this would be a boon for Dems.
First, it’s awfully difficult to blame Dems for stunting the legislative process when the GOP decides to shut down the legislative process.
Second, if the Senate takes its ball and goes home, it also effectively shuts down the House. It’s one of those pesky details of a bicameral legislature. And if Congress stops working (literally and figuratively) the GOP agenda stops moving. No new election-year tax cuts, constitutional amendments, corporate giveaways, etc. Sure, Dems won’t be able to advance their concerns either, but in this climate, Dems aren’t going to get many victories anyway.
Third, it would put partisan rancor on full display. While Kyl and others think this would help the GOP, I respectfully disagree. Bush took office claiming to be a “uniter” with extensive experience bringing Dems and Republicans together, who would help “change the tone” in DC. Three years later, there’s a GOP White House, GOP Senate, and GOP House — and they still can’t get things done. Any chance people would see this and look at Bush as an effective leader?
Fourth, a Senate shutdown would stop the election-year traps Republicans want to set for John Kerry and Dems facing tough re-election fights. It’s hard to trash a lawmaker’s vote on a controversial issue if there are no votes on any issues.
And finally, with the GOP controlling everything, who will most Americans blame for the shutdown? Republicans will say Dems’ filibusters were getting in the way. I hate to say it, but this is legislative minutiae — most Americans have no idea what a filibuster even is. All they’ll know is that their elected officials have decided to stop working. And if you don’t think the public would blame the GOP, ask Dole and Gingrich how people reacted to the last shutdown.
In fact, the Dems would have a field day. The ads would write themselves. Jesse at Pandagon came up with a terrific first draft, gift wrapped for the DNC:
Republicans shut down the Senate. When push came to shove, they decided that getting what they wanted was more important than working with Democrats to do what was best for our country. Can you afford a Senator who will work to shut down the entire Senate every time they don’t get what they want?
I don’t think Frist is dumb enough to seriously consider this, but you never know. He’s been acting rather erratically lately and Daschle seems to have really gotten under his skin.
So, Sen. Frist, I dare you. If you’re sick of Daschle’s obstructionism, then show him who’s boss and shut down the Senate. He won’t let you do what you want to do anyway. Why give him the satisfaction of your frustration? He’s making a mockery of the legislative process. Better to send everyone home, take your message to the people, and start things fresh in 2005. You’ll probably be demoted to Senate Minority Leader by then, but you’re far better at criticizing than governing anyway.