Don Wolfensberger at The Hill:
Since 1976 there have been 21 government shutdowns, the longest lasting 34 days, from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019. The second longest was 21 days in December 1995 (“the Gingrich that stole Christmas”). And the third longest was 16 days in October 2013. Others lasted on average one to three days.
…While the House and Senate Appropriations committees have traditionally operated more above the partisan fray than other committees, that pattern has morphed over the last few decades. Appropriators are whipsawed by their party leaders today to deliver on such key issues such as border security, disaster relief and foreign assistance. Mounting deficits and debt are another factor slowing down action. While little talked about publicly by most members during the campaign, the deficit remains the 900-pound gorilla in the room.
One cannot explain-away Congress’s tardiness for not completing its work on time. The excuses may be plausible, even reasonable, but they are no reason for Congress to avoid addressing its key constitutional mandate to exercise its power of the purse.