If we don’t want to see the annual 1500-page Christmas “continuing resolutions,” Republicans might take a lesson from the Polish Left about making a statement about what you stand for. In 2016, they occupied Parliament for 26 days over Christmas to protest a budget they did not like and deemed invalid. Yes, the world media painted it as “defense of democracy,” but American conservatives — avoiding that Leftist filter — should learn a lesson.
As usual, after symbolic “debate” on a variety of irrelevancies, the Senate is moving towards taking up a “continuing resolution” (CR) to fund the government. The current CR, which is the trans equivalent of a real budget, runs out Friday. Congress should have had funding bills in place by September 30 but, well, there were so many Biden judges to stuff.
The usual suspects, of course, are bemoaning “this is not how you should run a government!” It isn’t, but there is method to this madness.
If Majority Leader Chuck Schumer allowed the kind of real debate with real amendments that “the world’s greatest deliberative body” still rides on the gases of, then lots of pork in the form of earmarked sacred cows would be gored. Can’t have that!
…so, hold the bill until the last possible moment before Christmas, put it forward as “all or nothing,” and then push the story (happily taken up by a pliant media) that “Republicans” will “take away your Social Security payment” if they “don’t fund the government.” Five days before Christmas and with the end of the current Congress in a little more than two weeks, lots of members will hold their noses and vote for it.
What else could conservatives do?
Well, they might take a lesson from liberals in Poland.
In mid-December 2016, the conservative Law and Justice government also had to enact its budget, and the Polish Left (basically the folks now running the country) opposed it. Two days earlier, the government had adopted new rules about journalists roaming through Parliament, which is what the Left really didn’t like.
When a leftist parliamentarian took to the floor to oppose the budget but carrying a “Free Media!” card, he was ruled out-of-order. In response, the Left physically blocked access to the lectern where speakers addressed parliament. The government, having to pass its budget and not wanting physically to break up the occupation of the chamber, adjourned the meeting to an adjacent chamber and adopted the budget there.
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