THE INSANITY WATCH – AT 9:47 A.M. ET:   No one denies that things are insane in Washington.  The Democratic Party is at its weakest point in a century.  The Republican Party is at its strongest.  Republicans control the White House, the House of Representatives, the Senate.  And they cannot create and pass a replacement for Obamacare.  Indeed, people now openly wonder when the next collapse will occur.

But the fact is that many Republicans are soldiering on, hoping to get much done by the end of the year.  If Republicans cannot pass a decent budget and tax-cut program, they can kiss control of Congress goodbye.  And for good reason.   From AP:

WASHINGTON — Despite opposition from Republican moderates and conservatives, House leaders are pressing ahead with a budget plan whose success is critical to the party’s hopes to deliver on one of President Donald Trump’s top priorities — a GOP-only effort to overhaul the tax code.

The importance of the measure has been magnified by the collapse in the Senate of the Trump-backed effort to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law, leaving a rewrite of the tax code as the best chance for Trump to score a major legislative win this year. The measure would require about $200 billion worth of cuts to benefit programs and other so-called mandatory spending coupled with the tax plan.

The budget plan unveiled Tuesday is crucial because its passage would pave the way to pass a tax overhaul this fall without the fear of a filibuster by Senate Democrats.

But it also proposes trillions of dollars in cuts to the social safety net and other domestic programs and puts congressional Republicans at odds with Trump over cutting Medicare. It also would sharply boost military spending.

“In past years, the budget has only been a vision. But now, with the Republican Congress and a Republican White House, this budget is a plan for action,” said Budget Committee Chair Diane Black, R-Tenn. “Now is our moment to achieve real results.”

Unclear, however, is whether GOP leaders can get the budget measure through the House.

Conservatives want a larger package of spending cuts to accompany this fall’s tax overhaul bill, while moderates are concerned cuts to programs such as food stamps could go too far.

“I just think that if you’re dealing with too many mandatory cuts while you’re dealing with tax reform you make tax reform that much harder to enact,” said Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa.
Black announced a committee vote for Wednesday, but was less confident of a vote by the entire House next week; a delay seems likely because of the ongoing quarrel between the GOP’s factions.

COMMENT:  Only strong leadership can break this logjam.  And that's what Republicans don't have.  The Senate and House leaderships are wobbly.  President Trump is no Ronald Reagan.  Many in the party don't like him and owe him nothing.  His low popularity ratings, however undeserved, limit his clout.

Reagan used to say that if he got 80 percent of what he wanted in a negotiation, he had a good deal.  Many Republicans don't understand that.  They want it all for their little faction of the party.

Another lesson unlearned is that, once you give a benefit to the American people, it's almost impossible to take it back.  If the GOP thinks it can cut Medicare, it's delusional.  It's the second most popular program out there, the first being Social Security.

A lot of work to do.  The future of the Republican Party depends on what its Congressional branch does over the next six months.  I can't say, based on the record, that I'm optimistic, but I'm hopeful.

July 19, 2017