The looming government shutdown is all about the Senate filibuster.
Republicans control Congress but cannot move a short-term funding bill though the Senate without Democratic votes.
And while Democrats have railed against the filibuster for years, they now find themselves boxed in by it.
The irony is that Democrats could end the filibuster at any moment. They don’t need Republican help.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) could simply announce that Democrats will no longer filibuster appropriations bills, and when back in the majority, they’ll formally abolish it.
That alone would render the filibuster meaningless.
Such a move would leave Republicans fully responsible for funding the government.
Democrats could vote against GOP proposals and then criticize them as bad policy without being blamed for shutting down the government.
Instead, Democrats risk shouldering the blame for a shutdown this week.
And if it drags on, Republicans could seize the moment and end the filibuster themselves — leaving Democrats with both the political hit and none of the leverage.
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