The news from both the state and federal level is all about budget dustups.
Evidently in Denver legislative leaders decided to have dinner to discuss their differences about Colorado’s budget, and how to balance it. The dinner was cancelled when Brandon Shaffer decided to go home and have dinner with his family. At least that’s what he said. The GOP leaders at that dinner say that Shaffer stormed out in a huff. Apparently the sticking point is that the GOP has decided that Colorado state workers need to pay more for their retirement benefits. Some Democrats are calling this the “Wisconsinization” of Colorado’s Budget. ColoradoWINS, the union representing state workers, was not amused, and Shaffer has threatened to introduce his own budget in the Senate—the first time that has been done in over 20 years.
Meanwhile back in Washington, a government shutdown is still looming. Michelle Bachman issued a call to the Tea Party, asking supporters to come to Washington to protest the budget negotiations. A couple hundred (that wasn’t a typo) protestors showed up. There were 50 members of the press at the event. I guess it is the wrecked car syndrome. The media is still gawking at the Tea Party, even though most of America has moved on, and the Tea Party is in the midst of breaking up into hundreds of parts. Locally rumor has it that there are three Tea Party groups, all working against each other in things like City Council elections.
So, even though the Tea Party is disintegrating, the federal budget is being held hostage because the demands of the Tea Party have not been met, and GOP legislators are scared to death that if they don’t support a disorganized bunch of malcontents they’ll face primary challenges and not get to keep their cushy jobs, with full benefits paid for by taxpayers.
The common theme in both state and federal negotiations seems to be that the GOP thinks that getting to a budget deal means constantly moving the goal post away from any policy that might help American workers.
Homework
Denver Post Story About Unpleasant Dinner
Federal Budget Two Step
Tea Party Rally Fizzles
Federal Budget Negotiations
Evidently in Denver legislative leaders decided to have dinner to discuss their differences about Colorado’s budget, and how to balance it. The dinner was cancelled when Brandon Shaffer decided to go home and have dinner with his family. At least that’s what he said. The GOP leaders at that dinner say that Shaffer stormed out in a huff. Apparently the sticking point is that the GOP has decided that Colorado state workers need to pay more for their retirement benefits. Some Democrats are calling this the “Wisconsinization” of Colorado’s Budget. ColoradoWINS, the union representing state workers, was not amused, and Shaffer has threatened to introduce his own budget in the Senate—the first time that has been done in over 20 years.
Meanwhile back in Washington, a government shutdown is still looming. Michelle Bachman issued a call to the Tea Party, asking supporters to come to Washington to protest the budget negotiations. A couple hundred (that wasn’t a typo) protestors showed up. There were 50 members of the press at the event. I guess it is the wrecked car syndrome. The media is still gawking at the Tea Party, even though most of America has moved on, and the Tea Party is in the midst of breaking up into hundreds of parts. Locally rumor has it that there are three Tea Party groups, all working against each other in things like City Council elections.
So, even though the Tea Party is disintegrating, the federal budget is being held hostage because the demands of the Tea Party have not been met, and GOP legislators are scared to death that if they don’t support a disorganized bunch of malcontents they’ll face primary challenges and not get to keep their cushy jobs, with full benefits paid for by taxpayers.
The common theme in both state and federal negotiations seems to be that the GOP thinks that getting to a budget deal means constantly moving the goal post away from any policy that might help American workers.
Homework
Denver Post Story About Unpleasant Dinner
Federal Budget Two Step
Tea Party Rally Fizzles
Federal Budget Negotiations
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