This Partial Shutdown is the new Sequester

In 2011, Congress passed and President Obama signed the Budget Control Act into law. This legislation created a “super committee” to reach a grand compromise on spending under threat of sequestration. Both parties went along with this because the establishment on both sides agreed sequestration would be unthinkable and therefore would never happen.

The super committee's deadline came and went, and sequestration went into effect. While Washington can argue about whose idea sequestration was originally, the point is conservative thinking about and understanding of recent federal budget history was insufficiently understood, and that's why something not expected to happen, happened.

Congressional Outlook

With a Democratic House, Big Green goes on the offensive in 2019

Trump is headed for a wake-up call on reality of divided government. That's not a bad thing

The man who could impeach Trump: Nancy Pelosi hires new top lawyer

Congress Last Week

Weekly Digest of the Congressional Record


Homeland Security

Calling the partial shutdown a 'two-week tantrum,' Schumer says funding for border wall will never pass, 'not today, not next week, not next year'

Byron York: When Democrats embraced the 'Southern Border Fencing Strategy'


Federal Spending

Shutdown Effects: Breakdown by Department and Agency

No End in Sight for Partial US Government Shutdown

Freedom Caucus members on border wall funding: $5 billion is already a compromise number; flexibility for administration on how border security funds are spent could bring further compromise

Federal Shutdown Precedes Return to Divided Control of US Congress

Three Things to Watch as Partial Government Shutdown Plods On


Judiciary

Republicans should accelerate confirmation of judges in 2019


Congress

Trump and Democrats Prepare for a Reset in 2019

House won't seat North Carolina Republican amid ongoing election fraud dispute