(The Denver Post)
The Denver Post Editorial Board January 23, 2019 7:09 pm
Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner’s spokesman told us Wednesday he intends to vote for a clean funding bill that would open the government with no increased border-security funding attached.
It’s the right thing to do.
We cannot stress enough that our democracy’s health is at stake in this political stalemate. When we allow funding measures and budgets to be tied to policy objectives and pet projects, everyone suffers. Both parties are guilty of the malpractice, as we noted at about this time last year when Democrats were the ones orchestrating a shutdown in pursuit of protections for immigrants without legal status who were brought to America as kids.
This 33-day, partial shutdown is driven by President Donald Trump’s demands for $5.7 billion for a wall on America’s southern border. It should stand as the last time our politicians abuse federal workers as though they are disposable pawns in a grander game of political chess.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, pledged to allow his members to vote on two bills Thursday and one would fund the government until Feb. 8 without the controversial money for Trump’s wall (it would keep border security funding at the same level). That clean continuing resolution takes the common-sense approach of alleviating the shutdown crisis and then allowing negotiations on immigration reform and border security.
The measure is likely to get the support of every Democrat in the Senate, including Colorado’s Michael Bennet, but it’s unlikely the bill will pass, as it needs 60 votes and most Republicans are standing firm with Trump. Democrats in the House have already approved a clean funding bill.
Comments