This is just colossally bad
The longer the dysfunctional Republican Party limps along, the more its leaders try to implement colossally bad ideas. The White House is again sounding the alarm, warning that “extreme House Republicans are back at it again” as they are “marching our country toward a government shutdown that would damage our communities, economy, and national security.” Newly released statements make clear just how far the GOP vision is steering us off the rails.
On Tuesday, the White House released a statement outlining what it would mean for Americans if the 8% cuts that House Republicans introduced this week in a continuing resolution (CR) were extended for the entire year. In this Republican dream-come-true scenario, 65,000 children would lose access to childcare, there would be up to 40,000 fewer teachers, aides, and other key staff at schools across the country, nearly 300,000 households would lose housing choice vouchers, the FBI would have to investigate crimes with 4,000 fewer employees, applying for disability benefits would take months longer, and much more.
On Wednesday, the White House issued a follow-up statement alerting the public that the Republicans’ CR would “decimate” the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) with a “draconian” cut of over 60% just as cold weather would be approaching. As the data set shows, all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia would suffer losses. For example, 59,725 Alabama households would be adversely affected by $40 million in cuts while $256 million in cuts to New York would hurt 1,166,391 households.
Also on Wednesday, the White House released a statement painting a vivid, damaging picture of how our nation would be harmed in the event of a Republican shutdown. FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund would risk getting depleted, travelers would face significant delays, patients desperate to undergo clinical trials would be turned away, and most EPA hazardous waste, water, and chemical facility inspections would stop. As if that’s not bad enough, 10,000 children would lose access to Head Start, major infrastructure projects would be delayed, food safety would be undermined, key funding for small businesses would be cut off, worker safety would be jeopardized, and more.
Presenting hard facts about disastrous Republican plans is not new for the Biden administration. For example, earlier this year, the White House released 51 state and territory fact sheets that highlighted the “devastating impacts of extreme MAGA House Republicans’ reckless plan to gut critical support for hardworking families while delivering massive tax breaks for the super wealthy and big corporations.” Today’s Republican Party is incorrigible.
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month