With just nine days remaining until current funding runs out, Congress on Monday moved a step closer to triggering another government shutdown after failing to strike a bipartisan deal on a stopgap funding bill to keep the government open.
After lengthy negotiations did not produce a bipartisan agreement with Republicans, House Democrats introduced their own proposal Monday afternoon funding government until Dec. 11, moving “full steam ahead” on a vote Tuesday, according to a senior Democratic aide.
The House will then send the political hot potato to the GOP-controlled Senate, although both chambers must ultimately pass identical legislation, which the president must also sign, in order to avert a government shutdown on Oct. 1.
Recognizing the lack of an agreement, a senior House Democratic aide warned that the bill “may get stuck in the Senate” after House passage, creating an impasse leading up to the deadline at the end of the month.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin struck an informal agreement early this month on a “clean” continuing resolution – essentially agreeing to keep a stalemate over another phase of COVID-19 relief out of the negotiations in order to keep government open.
Hey Look, Another Federal Government “Shut Down”
First, remember that President Bush was the last president to sign an actual budget. Governance by continuing resolution is an affront to good government.
Second, also remember that the vast majority of federal spending will chug along unimpeded.
Finally, there is no doubt in my mind that the Democrats will force a shut down right before the election – especially with a SCOTUS pick on the table. Fine. Shut it down. I don’t know why we fund “non-essential” services anyway.
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