“a pox on both your houses”

Whit Ayres’ comments in The Hill regarding the politics of the federal government shutdown:

“What we’re seeing primarily is disgust with the system as a whole and a pox on both your houses,” Whit Ayres, a prominent Republican pollster, said of polls on the shutdown.

“Most Americans can’t understand why the federal government can’t function effectively enough to pass a budget and keep the government open.”

He said Democrats are playing a weak hand in demanding a permanent extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and a restoration of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, given they’re in the Senate and House minority.

“The Democrats don’t control either house of Congress or the presidency, so it’s kind of hard to think that shutting the government down is going to get the majority that controls all three to do something they don’t want to do,” Ayres said.

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