Hang on to your hats, folks. There's some funding issues on the horizon and guess what?
Anxious conservatives see these essential items as their only vehicle to force reforms they yearn for in the face of implacable Democratic and White House opposition.
Natch.
Here are five upcoming funding fights that should be routine, but could easily become anything but, reports Sahil Kapur:
1) March 31: Medicare payment cuts for doctors
Since 2002, Congress has passed 17 short-term fixes to Medicare reimbursements so that doctors don't face a cut in payments, which right now could amount to a 21.2 percent drop. Of course, it would be more ideal to pass a permanent fix, but the fix is expensive—around $17 billion annually. So Congress regularly searches other parts of the budget for spending cuts, which are continually getting harder to find.
2) May 31: Highways
The highway trust fund, which finances infrastructure projects across the country, is set to run dry. Not enough members support raising the gas tax to replenish the fund so Congress needs to drum up the money somewhere else.
3) September 30: Children's Health Care Program
Even though the Children's Health Care Program (CHIP) is broadly popular among congressional members, there's still no consensus about exactly what should be included and how much the federal government should spend to help states cover medical expenses for children.
4) September 30: A Government Shutdown
Yep. Again.
5) Oct/Nov: The Debt Ceiling
Sometime later this year, the government will run the risk of not being able to pay its bills unless Congress raises the debt ceiling. That will give Republicans another opportunity to threaten the economy and the nation's credit rating worldwide unless they get something in return.
House Budget Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) has hinted at another showdown by saying the debt limit deadline presents "opportunities and pinch points" to potentially seek dollar-for-dollar spending cuts in return.