Editorial: Political turkeys in DC don’t deserve to be pardoned
In a Thanksgiving tradition, President Donald Trump pardoned two North Carolina turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, from a destined fate of becoming holiday dinner. However, the festivities were overshadowed by a pressing issue on Capitol Hill: the recent government shutdown that left millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in jeopardy of losing their food benefits. Despite the urgency of the situation, Democratic lawmakers, including Congresswoman Katherine Clark from Massachusetts, admitted to using the impending crisis as leverage in negotiations, stating, “of course there will be families that are going to suffer, but it is one of the few leverage times we have.” This sentiment echoed throughout Washington, where many speculated that the shutdown could extend past Thanksgiving, a grim reality that would see lawmakers feasting while their constituents faced hunger.
The government shutdown highlighted a troubling disconnect between elected officials and the American public. Both Democrats and Republicans failed to fulfill their responsibilities to keep the government operational, allowing a spending bill standoff to escalate into a crisis that affected countless families. This pattern of partisan politics and bickering, rather than constructive dialogue, has become all too familiar in Washington, where lawmakers often seem insulated from the struggles of their constituents. While some, like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, sought to address the fallout from the shutdown by proposing measures to ensure military service members received pay, the overall response from Congress was lackluster. As the focus shifts to the looming expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits and the ongoing battle over healthcare costs, the recent shutdown serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for effective governance.
Moving forward, it is crucial for both voters and lawmakers to reflect on the lessons learned from this shutdown. The failure to prioritize the needs of everyday Americans should prompt voters to hold their representatives accountable, ensuring that those who treat the lives of their constituents as mere bargaining chips are voted out. As the nation prepares to tackle the next significant policy challenges, including healthcare reform, the hope is that Congress will learn from its missteps and strive for a more compassionate and effective approach to governance. With the stakes higher than ever, it is essential for elected officials to remember that their actions have real-world consequences for the families they serve.
President Donald Trump continued a Thanksgiving tradition Tuesday, pardoning North Carolina turkeys Gobble and Waddle from a roasted fate.
But there are other turkeys on Capitol Hill who do not deserve to be let off the hook, not by the president, and not by taxpayers.
Chief among them are the Democratic lawmakers who dragged their heels on ending the recent government shutdown as food benefits for millions of SNAP recipients hung in the balance.
As families in need panicked ahead of a food assistance delay or cutoff, Mass. Congresswoman Katherine Clark said “of course there will be families that are going to suffer, but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”
Clark may have said it, but she wasn’t the only DC lawmaker in line with that way of thinking.
Some in Washington even speculated that the shutdown would extend past Thanksgiving, which is something to keep in mind as you slice into that turkey tomorrow. If those lawmakers had been right, those keen to use looming hunger as “leverage” would be tucking into a feast as constituents went hungry.
But the Democrats are far from alone in turkey-town. Both sides of the aisle failed in their sworn duty to keep the country running and the government functioning. Our history of shutdowns and their impact should have informed our representatives of what the worst-case scenario looked like, yet they let a spending bill showdown turn into another nightmare.
The Beltway is our nation’s turkey pen, and the leaders who work and reside within are far too removed from the lives of their constituents. They return to their home districts and states during campaign season, certainly, but life inside the bubble is the comfort zone of choice.
They are insulated from struggle, and the government shutdown which sent families reeling from missed paychecks and lack of benefits didn’t affect them the same way, if all all. It was partisan politics, bickering and finger-pointing as usual.
There are some exceptions, those who called out the looming SNAP disaster, missed paychecks and shuttered services as the fiascos they were.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, for example, proffered legislation to pay more than 1 million military service members during the government shutdown.
But the turkeys of partisan party politics had the main character energy.
The focus is now on the extension of ACA tax credits, the point of contention between Democrats and Republicans who fought over kicking the can down the road as the program is set to expire next month. Trump has talked of a plan to address health care costs, which are astronomical even for those with insurance through their employers.
The cost of health care is likely Washington’s next big fight, and the way Congress acquitted itself so poorly during the shutdown does not bode well for Americans looking for real relief.
DC pols should use the shutdown as a teachable moment in how not to handle negotiations. Voters should use the shutdown as a teachable moment in which turkeys need to be voted out.
Editorial cartoon by Chip Bok (Creators Syndicate)
