Government Shutdown Looms: Pressure Mounts on Congress to Secure Bipartisan Funding Deal
This is what the package would fund, according to a summary from House leadership obtained by CNN and details provided in summaries circulated by those who helped negotiated the deal:Judy Woodruff interviews all seven 2020 Academy Award nominees for best director.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass sweeping funding package bottling out a government shutdown before friday as lawmakers break the terms of December 3 deadline for government funds running dry This push from the left illustrates one of the most difficult ongoing tasks for Congress: working in a bipartisan manner.
Background of the Financing Package
The pressure is mounting on lawmakers to come up with an agreement that would prevent the federal government from shutting down after Sept. 30, when the fiscal year comes to a close. The ramifications of a shutdown would be large, impacting federal worker paychecks to key programs and services relied upon for tens of millions of Americans.
The new round of funding includes maintenance for government operations as well as help dealing with the most pressing problems. In the meantime, lawmakers have been active behind the scenes pushing to find a large-scale compromise that can satisfy both those who are demanding fiscal responsibility as well as the different interest groups and constituents.
Key Provisions of the Package
The looming measure is likely to contain a stopgap spending part, known asa continuing resolution (CR), which would maintain current funding levels into the next fiscal year. That gives them more time to try for an even larger budget deal.
The package may also include funds for disaster relief and military aid, especially in areas hit by recent natural disasters then throughout the world where tensions are high. Both these provisions are intended to win support from both sides insofar as they aim to fulfill urgent needs, but do not throw out the baby with the bathwater and reduce the overall integrity of the funding bill (well, at least in theory.
Political Dynamics
It has not been an easy path to finally reach a vote to pass the funding package. The Democrats and Republicans are split into factions, generating a broad range of proposals for reform from every corner. Progressives have been urging more spending on social programs, while some conservatives seek cuts in discretionary spending.
But the party leaders are still laboring to produce an agreement, despite these disagreements. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has hammered on the need for cross-party bipartisanship, imploring members to put aside their partisan differences and do what is right for Americans. Likewise, Democratic leaders have stated a desire to negotiate in good faith and avoid a shutdown of the federal government.
Impact of Shutdown on Right-leaning Government
The possibilities of what could come from a government shutdown have no end. Thousands of federal workers would be furloughed, essential services cut and the economy stifled. Experience shows that when lawmakers fail to reach an agreement for extended periods, confidence in government erodes, and serious economic uncertainty results, as we saw with past shutdowns.
In addition, a shutdown could worsen problems that are already problematic such as inflation and supply chain disruptions, and make it more difficult for the country to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. With midterm elections coming up, the stakes are especially high with both parties looking to prove they can lead.
Next Steps
With the House up next soon to vote on its own funding package, all eyes then will turn to the Senate -- where this legislation also must pass before it can reach the President.ResumeLayout transition (10 of 12) Senate leaders have signaled support for the package, but a timeline on when it could be approved is still in question.
Over the next few days, lawmakers generally meet their final discussions and negotiations to achieve a compromise bill that would finalize spending and prevent another government shutdown. The result of this congressional effort will affect not just how the government works but could itself be a sign of future bipartisan cooperation in an era of divided politics.
Conclusion
If the government does shut down because of a lack of protracted funding, it would be the first shutdown in U.S. history with a single party controlling both houses and the White House, The Post noted. Lawmakers mourningly rove through bipartisan battlefields should not go it alone. Never mind the immediate financial worries, the long-term effects of such a shutdown will surely undermine public confidence in the government and put a drag on an already shaky economy. With the clock ticking, all eyes are on Capitol Hill, where government funding must pass before midnight.
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