DEMOCRATS: HANG TOUGH ON FUNDING BILL; DEMAND CONDITIONS

THEY HAVE A GOOD HAND ON SHUDOWN FIGHT

We're inundated with columns or commentaries that the Democrats lack a leader and an agenda.

True, and not especially relevant. In this political cycle, the out party focuses on opposition, opportunities and openings. They are there, starting with a possible government shutdown this month and the next two November elections.

This is not the time to look for a leader or lay out an agenda.

Think this is illogical? Ok, tell me who was the Democratic leader in 2017 following Donald Trump's first victory? It certainly wasn't Joe Biden. Or who was the Republican leader in 1977 after Watergate and the loss of the White House? It wasn't a supposedly aging Ronald Reagan. (He was 66, thirteen years younger than Trump today.)

On agenda, the Democrats at this stage in 2005 were about opposing the Republican plan to partially privatize Social Security, and President Bush's disastrous response to Hurricane Katrina. In 2013, the Republicans, after losing a Presidential race they expected to win, issued an autopsy calling for the party to reach out more to the poor and voters of color.

Donald Trump won three years later, ignoring the autopsy.

Democrats have serious problems. Republicans are out-registering them and population and census projections suggest a party that forfeits Ohio, Florida and Texas will have a difficult time winning national elections.

But the immediate charge is to select priorities to oppose Trump policies on the cost of living, cutting Medicaid and veterans' benefits.

This month, it's essential that Democrats oppose extending government funding, at the risk of a shutdown, without popular and reasonable conditions. Six months ago, I wrote that Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer was right to oppose a government shutdown weeks after a newly elected President.

Now, however, Democrats have more cause and political leverage. A funding bill can't pass with only Republican votes.

They can't simply oppose; they need to offer conditions that will make it harder for the White House to play hardball at least for any duration. That would be a blow to the economy and heighten congressional Republicans' nervousness about the legislation they approved giving big tax cuts, disproportionately to the affluent, while cutting Medicaid and food stamps.

The focus should be on the cost of living, reminding voters of Trump's failed promise to, starting on day one, end inflation and make life more affordable.

A non-negotiable demand should be to fully extend the Obamacare tax subsidies for working and middle class families. Trump and most Republicans hate anything associated with Obama, though the enhanced subsidies actually were approved in 2021 through 2025.

If they expire, it could throw as many as 3.3 million people off the health care coverage rolls and sharply increase premiums for others. They can't overhaul the sweeping Medicaid cutbacks at this point now, but can insist on something like another $50 billion, over ten years, for rural hospitals that Medicaid cuts will force to cut services or close. The Trump-Republican bill authorized $50 billion to defray these costs. KFF, the health research firm, calculates the Medicaid cuts will cost these hospitals $137 billion.

Conditions also might include making sure the more than one million veterans on food stamps don't get hurt by cuts in that program.

If Republicans charge these are budget-busters (adding a small fraction of what the Trump-GOP bill did to the deficit) then Democrats can respond fine, let's take it from the $1 trillion of tax cuts you extended this summer to those making over $1 million a year.

They need to play tough, even if there's a shutdown, but not overplay their hand. This is not the place to challenge Trump's authoritarian actions on immigration or sending federal forces into American cities or any social issues.

With an acquiescent Republican Congress and Republican Supreme Court, Trump is on a streak, dominating American politics. But polls suggest voters are souring on his failures.

With the government funding bill, Democrats have an opportunity to put him on the defensive while energizing their base.

That leads into this November's gubernatorial elections and sets the stage for the critical 2026 midterms.

Then the party can start trying to settle on a leader and an agenda.