It’s not surprising that members of Congress would have a habit of repeating a short list of talking points, given how often they face the media and how important it is for them to stay on message. But that tendency was more apparent than usual last week during a feud over a stopgap spending measure and the ensuing government shutdown.
We searched every issue of the Congressional Record from the beginning of last week through Monday, the day the government shutdown ended, to pinpoint exactly how many times Congress pulled out its favorite spending metaphor: “Kick the can down the road.”
We included in our search all variations of the phrase, such as “kicking the can down the road,” or “kicks the can down the road,” and in two cases, kicking “the ball” down the road. (I’m looking at both of you, senators from New Jersey).
Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota first employed the phrase in a floor speech Tuesday morning.
“Republicans now tell us we need to kick the can down the road again,” said McCollum, referencing a four-week continuing resolution that ultimately failed in the Senate, leading to a government shutdown at midnight on Friday.
In total, members of Congress used the phrase 77 times from Tuesday, January 17, through Monday, January 22.
“Now, we have heard a number of things about kicking the can down the road,” Oklahoma Republican and senior appropriator Tom Cole began one speech. “I confess, keeping the government open while negotiations are in progress is something we are trying to do.”
Lawmakers in the House used the phrase a total of 22 times. Their counterparts in the Senate more than doubled that, with a tally of 55.
Much of the credit (or blame) goes to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who referenced the notion of kicking cans 10 times throughout the week, more than anyone else. Close behind him was Bernie Sanders, who uttered the phrase eight times—six of those in one speech alone.
And Sen. Pat Leahy took bronze, having employed the metaphor seven times. Sen. Jon Tester gets an honorable mention, with a final count of five uses.
Congress may find itself in the same position three weeks from now absent a bipartisan immigration deal, when another short-term government funding bill runs out on February 8.
Maybe next time, lawmakers will get creative with their comparisons. But don’t count on it.
