Congressional What Next: Two realities influence all coming events

Congress is back in town after a groggy and staggering end of the last session. They gathered back in the cold along with a weakened and unpopular Administration. The question of “What Next?” is, of course, being asked.

There are a number of critical issues before the county and its representatives. You can tick them off by reading the newspaper, -immigration, tax reform, economic growth, joblessness, Iranian sanctions to name a few.

There also practical ones like funding the government for the remaining fiscal year and expanding the national debt ceiling so more money can be borrowed to pay for government operations.

In spite of the budget passed by both Houses in December, the political atmosphere is toxic. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has done almost everything possible to soil the political working of the Senate. Mr. Obama blames all ills on anyone who opposes his views. Republicans are anxious to get to the next election cycle.

In trying to answer the next question. It is important to understand the realities for the next 12 months.

The biggest reality is that President Obama will be in office for the next three years. No matter what the levels of his poll numbers or his lack of engagement with Congress, the fact remains, the President will continue to push his vision, his programs and continue to be an obstacle to any meaningful curbs on a government that ignores the bounds of the law or it consequences.

This mean ad hoc change of directives enacted into law and continued, beyond ordinary boundaries, further regulation.  It means that no matter the disruptions to the health market, there will be no changes in the Affordable Care Act. It means there will be not meaningful changes in federal spending, reform of entitlement programs or reduction of federal deficit. The goal of the President is to expand government, reduce individual decisions and expand the dependency on government largess. If this means to pull the one class down which does not elevate the other, it does not matter. The class warfare will continue and accelerate, not policies that bring national unity.

The next reality involves the November election. For Republicans, it is all about the election even more so than for the Democrats. Votes, positions, policy, investigations, action and inaction will all be designed to put the opposition into difficult positions. Maybe that is how it should be. However, Republicans know that unless they can control Congress, they will continue to be nothing more than an obstructive nuisance.

After the election, the reality is further changed for the Administration but the clock is then really ticking.