President Biden blasted Republicans for “bringing us to the brink” — while at the same time praising averting a government shutdown by passing a short-term funding bill.
The president lamented the lack of additional aid for Ukraine in the spending deal, and urged Congress to take up a separate bill to channel more support to the war-torn country.
“Frankly, I’m sick and tired — I’m sick and tired — of the madness and so are the American people,” Biden said in a brief speech on the spending cap.
After weeks of impasse with his own GOP caucus, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) introduced a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government lights on until Nov. 17.
Biden signed the bill on Saturday after Democrats helped push it through the House and Senate. The bill features $16 billion in domestic disaster relief funds, but nothing for Ukraine.
President Biden blasted Republicans for ‘playing games’ and bringing the country to the brink of a shutdown. AFP via Getty Images
On Sunday, McCarthy indicated he agreed to pass a stand-alone bill to deal with Ukraine – but also wanted strengthened border security measures.
“We have time, not a lot of time, and there’s a great sense of urgency,” Biden said when asked when the funds would run out. “I can convince [Ukraine]look at me, we’ll get it done.”
“I hope this speaker’s experience is a personal revelation. I’m not faceless,” Biden added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington, DC last month and made a plea for more support. PRESIDENT’S PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockMatt Gaetz made many attempts at CR and is now working for the removal of Kevin McCarthy.AFP via Getty Images
GOP hardliners like Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who plans this week to push for McCarthy’s removal, has bristled at the prospect of the speaker putting Ukraine funding up for a vote.
Biden also pushed back on whether he believed House Democrats should save McCarthy when Gaetz pushed to oust him, saying: I’ll leave it up to the leadership in the Senate.”
Congress still needs to fully fund the government for the 2024 fiscal year, which begins Sunday. This is done through 12 appropriation bills. So far no one has cleaned the two halls.
The GOP-led House has passed four, but has pursued a lower top-line funding level than the Democratic-controlled Senate, which is closer to the $1.59 trillion discretionary level agreed upon during the debt ceiling dispute in May.
So far, the Senate has not passed any of its appropriations bills.
Kevin McCarthy has blamed Democrats for bringing the country to the brink of a shutdown.Getty Images
“It’s time to end government by crisis and keep your word when you give it,” Biden said.
“[In] In the last few days and weeks, the extreme MAGA Republicans tried to walk away from the deal, voting for deep and drastic spending cuts,” Biden said. “They failed again. And we stop them. But I have no illusions that they will ever come back.”
Biden referenced several iterations of the CR that McCarthy had in mind that would further reduce spending.
But faced with the stubbornness of GOP rebels, McCarthy ended up choosing a “clean” CR to keep the government lights on.
Speakers have voiced confidence he will fend off efforts to impeach him.Getty Images
Still Biden insisted that “it’s good news” Congress prevented the government shutdown, “saving millions of Americans unnecessary pain.”
The 80-year-old president also issued a clarion call to Congress to hurry up, “stop the game,” and prevent a shutdown before the November deadline, which comes six days before Thanksgiving.
“I strongly urge my fellow Republicans in Congress not to wait. Don’t waste time like you did all summer. Pass the budget agreement for one year [and] respect the agreement we made a few months ago,” he said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
