Is Republican blackmail too strong a way to describe the current negotiation to avoid a government shutdown? I don’t think so. Here’s why.

Just last month a deal was made to avoid a shutdown with another continuing resolution, the third continuing resolution for the fiscal year which just began October 1, less than 4 months ago. (See the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget blog for a brief history of these continuing resolutions and the latest news.)

Then Republicans who control the presidency and both houses of Congress delayed consideration of funding the govenment until just a few days before the end of the continuing resolution. Now they are trying to blackmail the Democrats into supporting their continuing resolution by holding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) hostage.

Simply put, Congress let CHIP expire last year and put healthcare for millions of children at risk. Rather than simply reauthorzing this program, the Republicans include the reauthorization of CHIP in the continuing resolution which will fund the government for the next month.

If the Democrats do not support the Republican continuing resolution, they will allow the Republicans to continue not funding this healthcare program for poor children. And Republicans will certainly blame them for not supporting CHIP as well as shutting down the government.

If they do support it, they will allow Republicans to dictate the terms of the continuing resolution. And will probably face a similar dilemma next month.

Blackmail is a threat to harm someone if they do not do what the blackmailer wants.

In this case, the harm is not funding CHIP and putting healthcare for millions of children at risk.

This is why I consider this Republican blackmail.