Congress’ latest spending shenanigans are swampy self-parody

Government by brinksmanship is alive and well in Washington. Instead of actually debating some very consequential issues through the standard legislative process, Congress is expected to shuttle them through as part of the massive, shutdown-averting spending deal unveiled on Monday.

Among the several provisions tacked on to the spending bill are millions in taxpayer funds for government gun violence research that gun control advocates are celebrating, raising the minimum tobacco purchase age to 21, and repealing some health taxes.

The kicker? The over 2,300 pages of legislative text for the deal were publicly released late yesterday afternoon, and the House is expected to take up and vote on it today.