Our friend Ed Flaherty wrote this letter to the editor and shared it with Blog for Iowa. Posting with permission.

Dear Senators Grassley and Durbin:

You both agree  that the shutdown is harmful and unnecessary.  You have worked with each other before.  I suggest you two respected leaders in your respective parties meet.  The question of who is responsible for the shutdown would be discussed.  After each of you stating that the other’s party is 100% responsible, have a second cup of coffee.

If you are both truly interested in ending the shutdown, you will soon each admit that “your” side is responsible for maybe 20% the other 80%.  You will have opened a crack in the door.

After repeating the exaggerated claims by Republicans that the Dems are wanting to have taxpayers fund  the health insurance for undocumented folks etc., and the claims of Democratic  leadership that it is just Republican greed that makes them oppose the extension of the ACA  subsidies, you can open the door a bit more.

You know that thousands of Iowans will face monumental health insurance costs if the subsidies are not extended, and that the Republican party will be blamed.  Sen. Durbin knows that the MAGA base will blame the Democratic party for the shutdown’s continuation.

You are both experienced legislators.  Is there not an amendment to the Continuing Resolution  that both sides could agree to, with both sides losing something and yet both sides claiming victory??

Please give it a try.  Are you not both coffee drinkers?

Ed Flaherty