Both Dems and GOP Share Blame for Shutdown, Which Is Why It Will Happen Again

Republicans called it the "Schumer shutdown," citing the Senate Democratic leader's role in blocking the bill to prevent a government shutdown. The Democrats labeled it the "Trump shutdown," blaming lack of Republican urgency and the president's shifting positions on the key immigration issue.But every party involved in the brief federal shutdown bears some blame. And the underlying reasons reflect a pattern that will unfortunately recur in the future, perhaps as soon as three weeks, unless lawmakers -- especially the Republican majority -- remember that Congress can lead on issues and the Trump White House gets its act together.Ironically, there is substantial bipartisan agreement on many of the underlying issues, including money for hurricane relief, opioid relief, community health centers and children's health, and the need to permanently protect the young people brought here illegally as children and temporarily protected by President Barack Obama's 2012 executive order that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.  Continue reading...