The Democrats have made a lot of stew out of the supposed "unconstitutionality" of the Republican House's actions regarding funding the government. The Republicans have been described as anarchists, terrorists, hostage takers, and other names less savory. Critics say, "Obamacare was passed by both (Democrat) houses of Congress, signed into law by the (Democrat) President, and ruled Constitutional." (My notes added to improve accuracy.) The overall Democrat theme is "How dare Republicans use funding in this way?"
The answer lies in the words of James Madison, America's fourth President, and the man often referred to as "The Father of the Constitution." Here's what he had to say about the House of Representatives and funding (Some emphasis is mine):
"The House of Representatives
can not only refuse, but they alone can propose the supplies requisite
for the support of Government. They, in a word, hold the purse; that powerful
instrument by which we behold, in the history of the British Constitution, an
infant and humble representation of the People gradually enlarging the sphere
of its activity and importance, and finally reducing,
as far as it seems to have wished, all the overgrown prerogatives of the other
branches of the Government.
"This power over the purse may, in
fact, be regarded as the most complete and effectual weapon, with which any
Constitution can arm the immediate Representatives of the People, for obtaining
a redress of every grievance, and for
carrying into effect every just and salutary measure." - James Madison, Federalist Papers #58 (1788)
As the closest representatives of the people (the majority of whom oppose Obamacare) it is the House's duty to use the power of the purse to fulfill the people's wishes. Refusing funding, reducing the prerogatives ("excesses") of other branches of government, and redressing ("remedying") the grievances of the people are right in line with what the Founders had in mind when they wrote the Constitution.
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