Are they crazy? Funding the government through Dec. 15?

[question everything]

And then what? They will leave D.C. for their Christmas break? Just like last summer they left for their summer break without getting anything done?

"According to multiple sources, the House plan would have called for funding the government through December 15 to end the partial shutdown. It also would increase the federal debt ceiling until February 7."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/15/politics/shutdown-showdown/index.html

[mahina]

1. Probably in order to slide some kind of bs through

When people are distracted.

So, yes!

[bemildred]

2. They need more leverage. This isn't working for them. Christmas is more leverage. nt

[Generic Brad]

3. That is their chance to save face

They will quietly vote to pass both when the time comes. The Tea Party has been effectively neutered.

[MSMITH33156]

4. The House plan is idiotic, but

We don't want the government funded for too long. The Senate plan is actually intelligent. It forces a budget compromise by December 13th.

The House plan was idiotic because it all but guaranteed another crisis. The Senate plan has a clear out for that.

Also, the reason we don't want to extend this long-term is because the budget is at the sequestration levels. Hopefully we can pass a negotiated budget at some point, which is how government is supposed to actually work. On January 15th, a new round of sequestration kicks in, heavily targeted at the DOD, so both sides are really going to want to cut some sort of deal.