Washington Still a Mess

Well, it has been a week since I concluded that D.C. is a mess and not much has changed. Sure, while leaders wouldn’t negotiate seven days ago and now are, there may be progress, but the government is still shut down and we have yet to raise the debt ceiling.

Not to mention – are conversations now the measure of nominal success in D.C.? Isn’t that what they are elected to do? You know, like every day?

Nonetheless, here is where we stand: After the President and House Republicans failed to strike a deal last night, staffers in D.C. are reportedly working behind the scenes to iron out a deal. Republicans are shifting toward a solution combining the reopening of the government with an increase in the debt ceiling to provoke broader budget negotiations.

According to the New York Times, “House Republican leaders [have] latched onto [Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI] plan to offer a short-term increase in the debt ceiling as a way forward on deficit reduction and tax reform talks.”

Meanwhile, in the Senate, Senator Collins (R-ME), has put forth a plan that is under consideration that would repeal or delay Affordable Care Act’s medical device tax and give federal agencies flexibility to deal with sequestration induced spending cuts during the next two years. Separately, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed for cloture on a bill that would only raise the debt limit, which may be taken up in a Saturday vote on whether to proceed to that measure.

Whew.

It is fluid to say the least. But the important part is that, despite the shameful closing of the government and the highly questionable way we got here, is that for the first time in a long time leaders are having discussions. Heck, for the first time in a long time, grand bargain is even being discussed.

Which, as a member of the Campaign to Fix the Debt, I believe is the best way forward. Fights over the short-term continuing resolution and debt limit increase are diverting attention away from the critical issues of entitlement reform, tax reform, and the nation’s unsustainable debt.  We need a deal that hits on these.

Beyond that, I agree with what Marc Goldwein, senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Budget, says: “bend the health care cost curve by improving the way we pay for medicine and changing incentives for providers and beneficiaries; make Social Security solvent by slowing the growth for wealthier beneficiaries, adjusting for growing life expectancy, and bringing in new revenue from those who can afford it; reform the tax code by cutting many of the $1.3 trillion of annual tax preferences and using the money to lower rates and deficits; and replacing the mindless cuts of sequestration with thoughtful cuts to wasteful and low-priority programs.”

Easy? No. Doable? Yes.

Look – the debt ceiling must be lifted to pay the bills we have already incurred and the government certainly must be opened. The pain people are feeling, like the 2,500 Minnesota children without Head Start, is real. But as frustrating as this continued political posturing is, I am glad that our nation has been reminded that we indeed have a spending problem and major issues to tackle. Moreover, I feel like the first time in a long time, we may actually move the ball.

The question in my mind is not if but when. So, Congress, when will you rise to the challenge?