- Simply hours earlier than the federal government was set to close down, lawmakers reached a funding deal.
- It contains billions of {dollars} to fund catastrophe aid and to maintain federal packages afloat.
- This deal prevents hundreds of federal staff from going with out pay.
Lawmakers in Congress miraculously managed to keep away from a authorities shutdown, simply three hours earlier than the 12:01 a.m. deadline.
On Saturday, Speaker of the Home Kevin McCarthy managed to corral members of his get together to vote for presidency funding laws that might forestall the federal government from shutting down after September 30. For your complete previous month, lawmakers had been squabbling over their desired strategy to fund the federal government — conservative holdouts have been demanding steep spending cuts and strengthened border safety in a possible invoice, one thing Democrats within the Senate have been positive to oppose.
Nevertheless it seems sufficient lawmakers have been capable of finding some frequent floor… for now.
The stopgap plan, which is able to fund the federal government for an additional 45 days, contained $16 billion {dollars} for catastrophe aid and funds to pay service members and hold the Federal Aviation Administration and Nationwide Flood Insurance coverage program operational.
Notably, the invoice didn’t include extra funding for Ukraine, a key objection for some Republicans.
The Senate voted 88-9 on the invoice, with all “Nos” coming from Republican lawmakers, together with Senators Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, Ted Cruz, Invoice Hagerty, Mike Lee, Roger Marshall, Rand Paul, Eric Schmitt, and JD Vance.
The implications of a shutdown would have been drastic for hundreds of federal staff, together with Individuals who depend on a spread of federal packages. Whereas Social Safety funds would proceed to exit, for instance, restricted workers administering this system would lead to delays in getting a brand new card, together with getting assist with overpayment.
Whereas the shutdown has been averted for now, it as soon as once more put McCarthy’s management to the check. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, for instance, mentioned over the previous month that McCarthy was risking his management spot by selecting to appease Democrats on a authorities funding invoice, and never delivering on all of conservatives’ calls for.
“The one factor I agree with my Democrat colleagues on is that for the final eight months, this Home has been poorly led,” Gaetz mentioned on the Home ground on Tuesday. “And we personal that, and we’ve to do one thing about it, and you realize what? My Democratic colleagues could have a possibility to do one thing about that too, and we’ll see in the event that they bail out our failed Speaker.”
Within the lead-up to the invoice’s passage, Democrats repeatedly blasted Republicans for going again on the finances reduce deal they struck to lift the debt ceiling.
“It is time for Home Republicans to cease breaking their promise and put their nation – and American households and American troops – above egocentric, divisive politics,” White Home deputy press secretary and senior communications adviser Andrew Bates wrote in a Thursday memo.
The Home Democratic leaders launched a joint assertion Saturday earlier than the Senate vote, saying that there’s nonetheless extra work to be achieved — specifically “renewing help” for Ukraine. Home Democrats mentioned within the assertion that they count on McCarthy to advance a invoice to the Home ground for an up-or-down vote on Ukraine funding.
The stopgap measure will instantly go to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into regulation.
“Preserving the federal government up and working, funding the federal government, is likely one of the fundamental features of Congress they usually can do it nicely, they will do it poorly, however to not do it in any respect is simply completely avoidable and completely uncalled for,” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg beforehand instructed Insider.
