GOP Shutdown Watch 9/24: "GOP’s suicide caucus" Edition

As the House returns to session today, take a look at this morning’s NY Times editorial, which sums up Republicans’ shutdown saga quite well: “Congressional Republicans are again playing brinkmanship with the budget — some are even threatening to shut down the government — in order to score ideological and political points.”

Headlines of the Day:

New York Times Editorial: The G.O.P.’s Obsession With Planned Parenthood

Reuters: Republican freshmen urge House to avoid government shutdown

The Hill: Rove: Shutdown over Planned Parenthood would be a 'disaster'

The Hill: CBO: Defunding Planned Parenthood increases government spending

Quote of the Day:

“‘Republicans in Congress who want to risk a shutdown over Planned Parenthood have an obligation to spell out how they would get it done. They can’t,’ [GOP Strategist Karl] Rove wrote.” [The Hill,9/23/15]

Fact of the Day:

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), permanently defunding Planned Parenthood would end up increasing government spending by $130 million over 10 years.

Number to Know:

1.2 million: IRS verification requests that could not be processed during the 2013 GOP shutdown, potentially delaying approval of mortgages and other loans