A Low Bar for Congress

Neil Irwin: “On the central question around which America’s partisan battles are fought, the size and scope of the federal government, Ryan-Murray didn’t decisively move the needle one way or the other, which is why it was able to attract bipartisan support. Rather, it preserved the basic status quo while making both parties a little bit happier with the exact mix of federal spending.”

“It’s not the stuff of soaring political oratory or world-historical accomplishment, but in a world of divided government and polarized politics, keeping the government running without a lot of brinkmanship and high drama may be the best we can hope for. If the start of 2015 is a guide, even that much isn’t guaranteed.”