The House of Representatives passed a 45-day stopgap funding patch Saturday that will likely prevent a fourth partial government shutdown in a decade.
But time is ticking to avoid a decade-long shutdown, which will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday unless the Democratic-majority Senate passes the measure and President Joe Biden signs it into law in time.
The House voted 335-91 to approve a short-term bill known as a continuing resolution, or CR, to provide new funding to keep the government open until at least Nov. 17 and provide about $6 billion in disaster relief. However, the passed measure did not include $6.15 billion in new aid to Ukraine, which Dems refused to support.
The House vote is a test of McCarthy’s narrow 221-212 majority, where hardline conservatives have rejected a short-term bill known as a continuing resolution, or CR — and it could lead to a challenge to McCarthy’s speakership.
A conservative cadre led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz refuses to support any funding deal that doesn’t contain bigger spending cuts.
Hardline Republicans led by Matt Gatez insist the country must curb spending to control the growing national debt.ZUMAPRESS.com
“Congress must stop governing by continuing omnibus spending resolutions and legislation. This corrupt system has put America over $33 trillion in debt,” Gaetz told The Post.
Meanwhile, Senate GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell threw another monkey in the wrench by saying Republicans would seek to delay or prevent a vote on the Senate’s continuing resolution by voting to filibuster.
“I recommend that the vote not be allowed even though I really want to avoid a government shutdown,” he said.
House GOP leaders met behind closed doors but it was unclear for a while which way the vote would go.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is running out of time to avoid a government shutdown.REUTERS
However, some members expressed optimism.
“A shutdown is absolutely inevitable,” Rep. Issa (R-Calif.) told The Post.
Representative Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) said he doesn’t want to “shut down the government” but he also “will not support business as usual.”
“CR with funding for Ukraine and that doesn’t guarantee our borders is a non-starter for me,” he said early Saturday.
Some of the ideas being considered are ways to pay the military and flood insurance in the event of a shutdown.
Federal agencies have already drawn up plans for services that must continue, such as airport screening and border patrol, and must be closed, such as scientific research and food aid to 7 million poor mothers.
Under the shutdown, most of the 4 million-plus government workers will not be paid – whether they work or not.
House leaders appear increasingly resigned to at least a brief shutdown, preliminary reports from the meeting indicate.
House Majority Whip Representative. Steve Scalise (R-LA) told his colleagues that there was no way forward for a funding solution, Punchbowl reported Saturday
He later told reporters that a 45-day funding package including disaster relief funds might be coming — but it would need a number of Democratic votes to cross the finish line.
That takes a bunch of Dem votes.
McCarthy has said the House will vote on a stopgap measure to avoid a shutdown and has floated the idea of a temporary funding bill that would not include Ukraine funding. He could work with Democrats to get a compromise bill across the finish line but would run the risk of hardliners launching a “motion to vacate” challenge that could remove him from the Speaker’s seat.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said Saturday during an unrelated Midtown press conference that the state is “very concerned about the impending shutdown,” calling the looming situation a “ticking time bomb.”
“Here in New York we have almost 20,000 active duty members at risk of not being paid. They also have families to take care of. They are not rich people. They don’t have big bank accounts to cover this,” he warned.
With Post Wires and additional reporting by Georgett Roberts.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
