Democrats must own blame for shutdown

Susan Estrich blames Republicans for the government shutdown. Obviously, there’s serious government dysfunction. But the claim that Republicans control all branches of government, so “powerless Democrats” are not at fault, is rather laughable:

— In September, House Republicans passed the continuing resolution (CR) 217 — 212 (one Democrat voted yes).

— She must know the Senate filibuster generally requires 60 votes to advance legislation. Fifty-two of fifty-three Republicans voted yes on the CR. Three members of the Democrat caucus joined. Fifty-five yes votes, five short of the 60 required.

Where did Ms. Estrich think the Republicans could find those five votes, if not from Democrats? Democrat votes are what it ultimately took to pass.

Several of her suggestions simply “don’t hunt.” Is she suggesting putting the flying public at risk while air traffic controllers call out in significant numbers? Is she suggesting sending paychecks to federal employees without legislative authority? Is she in favor of having a single federal district judge order the executive branch to find and spend money not legislatively appropriated so full SNAP benefits are paid? What happened to this “no kings” thing?

“Obamacare subsidies should have been the price Trump had to pay to end it,” she tells us, perhaps forgetting Democrats passed Obamacare and the American Rescue Plan (which gave us the enhanced subsidies set to expire at year-end) with no Republican votes. We can’t know what health care would look like absent Obamacare, and though it addressed some issues and helped many uninsured, I find few who think overall access, service levels or cost have been improved.

Affordable health care is a laudable goal, but 40-plus days of punishing the country to make the point, that’s Democrat’s fault.

Sebastian Bufalino

Vernon Hills