House GOP Leading the Way

The House isn't going to wait for Harry Reid to act on an emergency spending bill:

House Republicans are drafting a short-term measure funding government at reduced levels for consideration next week, the latest move in an escalating showdown between the House GOP and the Democratic-led Senate.

House Republicans intend to unveil a resolution later this week that would continue funding the government past March 4, after which the government would run out of money and face a shutdown.

Republicans hope to pass the resolution — which will include cuts from current spending at a level that's to be determined — early next week in order to put the onus on the Senate to act or risk a government shutdown.

"If Senator Reid refuses to bring it to a vote, then the House will pass a short-term bill to keep the government running — one that also cuts spending," House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement. "Senator Reid and the Democrats who run Washington should stop creating more uncertainty by spreading fears of a government shutdown and start telling the American people what — if anything — they are willing to cut.”

Despite his protestations, Harry Reid wants a shutdown. He's stuck in 1995 and doesn't realize that the political landscape in 2011 is very different, and a government shutdown would not be the political blow to Republicans that it was when it happened last time (see this post for more details).

The House GOP can control the debate and put Reid in a difficult spot since it will be up to him to either act on the bill or stop it, and thus guarantee a shutdown.  It's a good strategy.