Shutdown avoided, for now

The federal government won’t be shutting down – at least for a couple of months, but no thanks to most of the Kansas delegation.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and all four U.S. House members from Kansas voted against the continuing resolution that funds the government through Dec. 11. Only Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., voted for it.

As usual, Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler/Hutchinson, was the most strident.

“Republican leadership once again caved,” Huelskamp said. “They are going to fully fund Planned Parenthood. Fully fund the Iranian nuclear ‘deal.’ Fully fund Obama’s illegal amnesty. Fully fund Obamacare. Fully fund the EPA.”

What Huelskamp didn’t explain is how the funding priorities he favors could ever clear the Senate, let alone survive a presidential veto.

Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, acknowledged that “a government shutdown is not in anyone’s interest.” Nonetheless, he opposed the bill because it “fails to support our national defense or make progress on protecting human life.”

Roberts, who has seen many budget fights during his years in Congress, also wants to defund Planned Parenthood. But he is pragmatic, noting that “shutting down the government won’t accomplish that goal.”

Nor is a shutdown good for the country or a responsible way to govern.

For the editorial board, Phillip Brownlee

This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Shutdown avoided, for now."