Another Government Shutdown Looms

Funding for the continuing operation of the U.S. government runs out September 30. While the buzz in Washington is that no one really opposes the bill that renews funding through mid-November, there are some contentions to an addendum that gives $1.5 billion to FEMA for disaster relief. In case you haven't been following the news this year, we've had the Mississippi overrun its banks forcing the U.S. Corp of Army Engineers to flood farm land that had crops already planted, we've had tornadoes in the South, hurricane damage and flooding in the Northeast and wildfires throughout much of the West, oh, and that drought in Texas. Did I miss anything? In short, people have lost their homes and livelihoods and need the disaster relief money. FEMA's broke. Members of Congress who have had these disasters touch their lives aren't really opposed to the funding that traditionally doesn't take the dollars from another program. It's an emergency fund, after all. Republicans want to use money from an Energy Department fuel efficiency program for the $1.5 billion; but the Democrats already passed a separate $6.9 billion disaster relief bill in the Senate that has no strings attached.

Guess what's DOA when it reaches the House? 

Guess where the American people will be left again, come next week?

Watching these two sides fight over money while people who need it watch from their makeshift homes, friend's homes, relative's homes, makes me want to smack someone. Better yet, let's drop them into the middle of a flash flood or a wildfire and then give them a box to live in for a month.

Leading the charge on the Hill once again.... House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy who have decided to wage war once again on the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Those two insolent brats (Cantor and McCarthy) have forgotten why they were elected (but look for their books soon) and I'm just guessing (not much of a stretch) that they have their eye on the highest office in 8 to 12 years. So the American people are looking at another hostage situation unless they get their way. 

Why does Eric Cantor always look like he could throw himself to the floor at any minute and roll around in a temper tantrum? McCarthy looks like he should always be emerging from a golf cart.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not Democrat or Republican either way.... I'm always somewhere in the middle. I know it's tough to know who's going to be dick or a good guy until they actually get to Washington, but I think anyone that is acting like a complete ass when it comes to funding the government, and especially if they're haggling over emergency money, deserves to be fired. Cool that we the people can do that. As long as we log the our representatives' track records, the choice will be clear come election time. 

Is there an app for that?