Boehner Needs Help

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “2011 Budget Bill with Cuts is Approved by Congress,” describes an interesting development in the budget battle with implications for future, more serious skirmishes (or more aptly battles). House Leader John Boehner was only able to get the budget bill passed with the help of Democratic votes.

A total of 59 Republicans voted against the measure setting up a conflict between the hard-right conservatives in the House and the limitations of divided government with the Senate and White House controlled by Democrats. But the tide of public opinion, once solidly in favor of the Republican budget cutters, has begun to turn after the draconian and severe budget plan drafted by House Republican Paul Ryan. That plan, for want of any serious Republican alternative, will be passed by the Republicans in the House on Friday, and will be hung like millstones around their neck by the Democratic opposition.

The Ryan plan eviscerates Medicare, turning it into a voucher system, meaning seniors would be left to make up the difference in the private health insurance market. And not many insurance companies will make a profit by protecting the health of 70- and 80-year-olds. And the bill simultaneously provides gargantuan cuts to the very rich, meaning, as President Obama said in his speech, that a millionaire will receive a tax cut of $200,000 that will be paid for by cutting $6,000 from 33 seniors.

Meanwhile, the political dynamics of a new coalition between mainstream Republicans and Democrats may have implications for future legislation. The Tea Party, in effect, has shot itself in the foot by making itself marginal to actually passing bills. And as Henry Clay said, and was quoted by Steny Hoyer, “If you cannot compromise, you cannot govern.”