Congress finally unveiled its plans for funding the federal government in 2016. If the bill passes, it would be really good news for NASA, which is set to receive $19.3 billion, nearly $1.3 billion more than it did last year. However, Congress is trying to slip infamous CISA act in the same bill. Obama could veto it, but it could lead to Government shutdown. If he doesn't, then citizen privacy is on the stake. http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2015/1216-nasa-gets-an-extraordinary-budget-in-2016.html http://www.wired.com/2015/12/congress-slips-cisa-into-omnibus-bill-thats-sure-to-pass/
The Washington Post, America's newspaper of record on political issues, seems to think that there is zero chance that Obama will veto the budget. We've already been through a budget sequester and it caused tremendous harm to the country, many of its institutions and millions of people. Obama is smart enough to make sure it doesn't happen again.
There are so many ironies about government, but the one that sticks out most is the idea that the same party telling us government doesn't work seems determined to prove it. Or, phrased another way, riders are one of the reasons Americans loathe their legislators; it is close to the heart of "what's wrong with government". Do you remember "Bart's Comet", an episode of The Simpsons, when Congress wouldn't save Springfield because of an arts rider? I mean, sure, it was a really clumsy joke, but they had their reasons. (Did you know Piss Christ came up in 2000, because some Republican wanted to rehash the issue in the middle of a bill dealing with diabetes?) It's weird because, to the one, this is how budgets work in the Beltway; to the other, all this anti-government sentiment has only elected exactly what the movement purports to disdain. Republicans are also using this budget to scale back food safety, and to give another $680 billion in tax cuts―and, you guessed it, it's not offset. The deficit apparently has been shrinking too fast for Republican comfort. But, yes, the president is smart enough to sign this bill. Unfortunately, voters aren't collectively smart enough to avoid these situations. There's a big freakin' gap in the averages where a political party used to be.
Well, Obama doesn't have the power to ensure a budget deal. He can only veto it. Since Republicans have been negotiating with Democrats to form a budget deal I doubt Obama will veto the budget unless Republicans try to pull a fast one by reneging on their agreement. The real question is can Republicans pass this budget deal? In the past Republican leaders have made budget deals with Democrats and then not been able to get those deals through the Republican caucus and that has resulted in some particularly horrendous last minute budgets (e.g. sequestration). Given the recent chaos in Republican ranks followed by a desperation and desire to prove Republicans can govern, I think Republicans will pass this budget deal. But time will tell, Republicans are slated to vote on this tomorrow. We will soon see if Republicans can pass the agreed upon budget.
