Oregon Strategist

Reinventing the Oregon Dream

Government Shutdown: The Poison of a Partisan Perspective

October 1, 2013 by Tim Crawley

Capitol HillOur federal government has ground to a halt. Again. Republicans and Democrats were unable to meet a deadline to fund the government Monday night. While a group of “combative” Republicans are largely bearing responsibility for the impasse in Congress due to their hawkish advocacy to defund the Affordable Care Act, the reality is the factions in Congress are more varied and deeply divided than ever.

Both parties are to blame for this stalemate, and the result may very well be an ever-divided Congress where each party will blame the other for their unwillingness to negotiate. On the one hand, Republicans are claiming they want to reign in spending but are unwilling to compromise when it comes to military budgets and spending on our overseas police power – a capacity that is becoming increasingly disfavored by the public. And, indeed, the Department of Defense is, by far, the largest contingent that will be affected by the shutdown. On the other hand, Democrats spearheaded a bill that is not feasible to fund given the current economic crisis because the government is strictly not generating enough revenue to support such a program short of spending our future away.

Our government’s sole focus right now should be on economic improvement. While the Affordable Care Act promotes a noble purpose, the fact of the matter is that our government cannot afford to pay for it. Our federal programs, such as Social Security, are already failing for lack of funding and mismanagement. There is little support for the idea that the Affordable Care Act would face any more promising future.

Economic improvement will come from taking military spending and re-investing those dollars here on the home front where our infrastructure and education are sorely lacking. Economic improvement will stem from creating a positive climate for small business and entrepreneurship by removing barriers to entry and by encouraging smaller, more flexible entities. These entities will, in turn, create the types of jobs we want in our society – the types based on relationships and accountability. And, finally, at the heart of economic improvement, is the idea that we decrease the stratification of wealth in our society. Simplifying the tax code is essential for leveling the playing field for all people. Complexities in the code create the types of loopholes that allow for corporate exploitation and tax shelters for the wealthy.

There are very certain and definite roles for our federal government. The services Washington D.C. provide through the unification of essential interstate laws and international treaties should be primary but focused. We must be realistic in what we can and cannot sustainably afford at that level. And let’s be honest, Cover Oregon is doing and would do a better job at providing health care for our citizens than any federal program. If our federal government is unable to afford Social Security and Medicare, then what good will the Affordable Care Act do for us when we ultimately cannot afford to pay the doctors?

Will it take a nationwide default to provide the political impetus to reform?  That is a possibility. But blaming one party or the other is only fuel for a divisive fire. The stopgap just may be to practice viewing this shutdown from an opposing point of view.

 

Filed Under: Economy, Education, Environment, International, National Tagged With: Affordable Care Act, Congress, Corporate Exploitation, corporations, Cover Oregon, Deadline, Default, Democrats, Economic, Economic Crisis, Education, Federal Spending, Government, Government Shutdown, Health Care, House of Representatives, infrastructure, Medicare, Military Budgets, Military Spending, Negotiations, Obamacare, Overseas, Partisan politics, Party Leaders, Police Power, Political, Political Parties, Politics, Republicans, Senate, Sequester, Shutdown, Social Security, Spending, tax, tax reform, wealth inequality

Monsanto Thunder, Merkley Blunder

June 3, 2013 by Oregon Strategist

MonsantoPresident Obama signed into law H.R. 5973, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act on March 26, 2013. The nationwide controversy that followed its passage was the result of section 733, the “Farmer Assurance Provision” that was notoriously nicknamed the “Monsanto Protection Act”, that included a rider added by the House of Representatives and passed by the Senate.

Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Appropriations Committee, voted for this bill and played a significant role in its passage. He attempted to cover his tracks by leading its repeal. When the repeal was blocked, he made an excuse that Republicans were to blame – a false excuse that continues to drive the wedge of divisiveness between the parties and fuels the lack of productivity in our nation’s capitol.

The rider, introduced by those in Washington D.C. with deep connections to the massive genetically modified seed corporation Monsanto, expands executive powers by allowing the U.S. Department of Agriculture the ability to override judicial proceedings invoked to protect the health and safety of American citizens. Furthermore, the rider grants growers of genetically modified seeds, the ability to continue to market and sell, fruits and vegetables that are potentially poisonous to our society.

First, Senator Merkley should have known of the rider. Back in December 2012, his fellow Oregonian House Representative Peter DeFazio authored a “Dear Colleague” letter opposing the Monsanto biotech rider.

Second, and furthermore, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Merkley should have had every legislative aid on his staff scouring the bill for suspicious language. Instead, the Senator, in failing to repeal the rider, drummed up the excuse that the Act was a “must-pass bill under tight time constraints.” He further explains in his statement to the President that the bill escaped the U.S. Senate “with no debate.” As a member of the Appropriations Committee, a debate should not be necessary for him to be aware of these riders.

As if excuses were not enough, he blames the GOP for blocking the repeal while ignoring the fact that fifty-one (51) democrats in the Senate voted for the Monsanto Protection Act as opposed to twenty (20) republicans – this was a bill favored by his party. Only one (1) democrat voted against the bill.

Attention to detail is certainly a necessary quality of a member of Congress. Accountability for mistakes is another such quality. Senator Merkley’s democratic colleague, Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) owned up to her role in H.R. 5973’s passage by making a public apology.

Partisan politics are to blame for the Sequester and much of the other government inaction plaguing the current system – not one particular party. We must seek to elect senators and representatives who are capable and willing to work with all members of Congress – not just those amongst their party ranks. These types of candidates are those trained to identify conflict and mediate towards a positive outcome.

Senator Merkley stands for reelection in 2014. His reliance on Oregon’s shade of “blue” is misplaced and unfounded. More folks now than ever are willing to cross their traditional party platform to vote for candidates who are conscientious, progressive, and balanced.

Filed Under: National Tagged With: 2014 election, Appropriations, Appropriations Committee, Barbara Mikulski, DeFazio, Farmer Assurance Provision, H.R. 5973, Jeff Merkley, Maryland Senator, Merkley, Mikulski, Monsanto, Monsanto Protection Act, Oregon Representative, Oregon Senator, Partisan politics, Peter DeFazio, Representative Peter DeFazio, Rider, Section 733, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Merkley

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