Can we avoid a government shutdown?
A funding vote is expected to happen early in the week in hopes of avoiding a government shutdown.
WASHINGTON – The Republican-led House passed a spending bill on Tuesday, which President Donald Trump supported, aimed at funding the government for the next six months.
This vote challenges Senate Democrats to oppose the GOP’s objectives and risk a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday amidst economic uncertainty and volatile stock markets.
The standoff occurs while Trump and his billionaire advisor, Elon Musk, are initiating significant changes in federal agencies and laying off tens of thousands of workers, all while the GOP administration intensifies a trade conflict with America’s neighbors and longstanding allies.
Democrats argue that the bill would have severe consequences for healthcare, food assistance, and veterans’ benefits by increasing defense spending by $6 billion and cutting non-defense spending by $13 billion.
The struggle to keep the government functioning until the end of the fiscal year on September 30 represents just one skirmish in what is projected to be a year-long battle over spending priorities.
With narrow margins of control in both chambers of Congress, Republicans voted 217-213 along party lines to pass the bill, with Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky being the only Republican to vote against it.
However, in the Senate, where there are 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, a super-majority of 60 votes is required to overcome a potential Democratic filibuster and move forward with the bill. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., has indicated his intention to oppose it, necessitating that Republicans gain support from eight Democrats to limit debate.
