A Shutdown May Be Averted, But at What Cost?

Republicans are celebrating the passage of a stopgap funding bill Tuesday that would prevent a government shutdown and extend most current spending levels until Sept. 30. There’s no question the alternative would be worse. The only problem is that current spending levels are completely out of control — and Republicans have every intention of increasing them.

Known as a continuing resolution, or CR, the House bill would (if passed by the Senate) extend most funding for six months, add money for defense and border security, and make modest cuts elsewhere. For all the talk of fiscal discipline, it might yield savings of just $8 billion by 2034 — by which time the federal budget deficit will be close to $2.7 trillion. Even the several dozen Republican radicals who habitually oppose all such measures went along with this one, thanks to the president’s prodding. They’ve thereby assented to borrowing $8 billion or so a day this year.