Are Women’s Issues Really Holding Up The Budget Battle? Eh, Maybe Not.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock. The countdown to the U.S government shutdown is getting closer. Democrats and Republicans still cannot compromise on budget cuts, and many have said that women’s issues are at the forefront of the debate. But are they?

There is a petition circulating from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which reads: “Republicans in Congress are so determined to deny women health care and family planning that they’re willing to shut down the government just to advance their extreme social agenda.”

Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, echoed those sentiments, saying earlier today:  “This all deals with women’s heath..It has everything to do with ideology on that other side of the capitol.”

Much of the disagreement lies in the Republicans push to cut funding for Planned Parenthood. Democrats are claiming they won’t budge until the cuts are changed. But really, this all seems a but weird. Is the U.S government really prepared to shutdown because of women’s issues? Since when have we been a top priority?

I think that this is all turning into a blame game. Things are bad, so each side is trying to use the potential lockout to frame themselves in the best light. Suddenly Democrats have become champions of women’s rights and pro-choice policy, blaming Republicans for refusing to budge on ideological issues. Republicans are arguing that the real conflict is over the money itself and exactly how much will be cut.

Once again women are stuck in the middle, and are being used as pawns. Does anyone else feel like the child of a divorce, where each parent is using you to get back at the other? The truth is that a budget is a budget. Programs and funding should be cut based on what will best help the economy instead of what serves a party’s ideological interest.

Contact the author here: JennY@morningquickie.com