PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (MarketWatch) — Just when you thought it was safe to expect the U.S. economy to enjoy healthy growth next year, along come politicians from both sides of the aisle whose words and actions make up a series of potential speed bumps.

Move over, you falling commodity prices, higher interest rates and global conflicts — this latest problem for our fledgling recovery comes from right here at home.

I am referring to a problem inside the Beltway, from no less a locale than Capitol Hill!

By this, I mean threats by Congressional Republicans to force the Democrats, including the president, to do their bidding. For their part, the Democrats are not at all interested in capitulating.

However, since the Republicans will control both houses of Congress next year, they are in a position to create more mischief than the Democrats. And based on what some Republicans are saying, there is a lot of mischief that can be caused.

For example, the Republicans could refuse to renew the stopgap spending law when it expires later this week. On Jan. 1, lots of business and personal tax breaks expire, which are also in their sights.

Later on this year, physician reimbursements from Medicare will end, unless the law is extended. The highway trust fund will run out of money, while the Export-Import Bank might have to cease functioning.

The big enchilada is the debt ceiling. In August of this year, the limit on the government’s ability to borrow to finance its current and projected expenditures will have to be raised. Guess which party is ready to hold this necessary action hostage.

By insisting that their control of Congress means it’s their way or the highway, the Republicans could once again become known as the “Party of No.” And that includes “no growth” because it creates uncertainty — an anathema to Corporate America when it comes to hiring, planning, spending and investing.

This will once again lead to government by crisis. And if the past is any guide, the voters will exact their pound of flesh come the next elections. This time they will be more likely to take out their wrath against the party they deem responsible for these crises — the Republicans.

One thing seems certain: The voters will show that they have good memories, even if the pols do not.

The inside-the-Beltway crowd will soon learn to respect the words of the philosopher George Santayana: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.