Don’t Expect Anything to Get Done This Year

First Read: “Both Democrats and Republicans have cleared the decks of anything that could divide their parties before the 2014 midterms. Republicans have essentially taken immigration off the table, as well as the threat of default or a government shutdown. Meanwhile, the White House has now removed chained CPI from its budget and slowed its push for fast-track authority. So both sides are deploying a do-no-harm strategy — all with less than nine months before Election Day 2014. It’s just the latest reminder that Washington is not going to get anything major done this year. It’s not even March 1, and both parties are waving the policy white flags.”