the phrase "down the road"
At some point, Washington has to deal with its spending problem. I've watched them kick this can down the road for the 22 years that I've been here. I've had enough of it.
what is "down the road"?

Question

the phrase "down the road"
At some point, Washington has to deal with its spending problem. I've watched them kick this can down the road for the 22 years that I've been here.  I've had enough of it.
what is "down the road"?

Answer

Hello  rfvlxz.

"down the road" usually means "in the future"  as follows:

We may have problems down the road.

However in the quotation  you offered, the meaning is slightly different, because it refers to something of a political activity.  Thus, in the phrase:

.

I've watched them kick this can down the road ..........[this phrase refers to  the political ideas and policies of  "Washington"   which means  the "U.S. Government".

So to kick the can down the road, refers to the public advocacy, and political advocacy of the 
government.  So,  Policies and Ideas that the government recommended,  are  the ideas
that they have   proposed...thus,  they  "kick---the---can----down---the---road".  You see?

---Warm Regards,  Bruce

Answer

It means to put something off and not deal with it. So it is saying that Washington continues to ignore this problem but not dealing with it. Hope that helps!
Brian