Friday 9 February 2018

Congress ends short-lived second shutdown of 2018 funds government for six weeks

Better late than never?
Congress ends short-lived second shutdown of 2018 funds government for six weeks


Congress passed a bill to end the government shutdown, which lasted for a matter of hours Friday morning before legislators kicked the can six weeks down the road.

The House of Representatives passed the measure just after 5:30 a.m., after funding ran out at 12:01 a.m. because of inaction on Capitol Hill.

Ousted White House aide Rob Porter's ex-wife fears for Hope Hicks: ‘If he hasn’t already been abusive, he will’

The Senate attempt to avert the second shutdown in the first six weeks of 2018 Thursday night failed when Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky demanded debate about spending limits and called out alleged hypocrisy in his party for approving of raising deficits only under a GOP president.

Shutdown end in sight after Senate's late night funding vote

But the upper house later passed a stopgap measure with 71 votes, letting the government reopen through March 23rd after the House vote.

Trump religious advisers have scorned the flu, the facts and football players

The bill also raises domestic and military spending by around $300 billion over the next two years.

Paul's concerns about government deficits was echoed by some of his Republican colleagues in the House, who voted against the deal that ended up passing with the help of more than 70 Democrats.

The Democratic votes came despite House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi saying that she did not support the bill and wanted a firm commitment from Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to tackle immigration issues including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Trump says he’d ‘love’ to see the government shut down over an immigration law impasse

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved Friday morning to start debate on immigration next week.

The bill passed Friday does not address immigration issues, which have become a sticking point between Democrats and Republicans including President Trump, who has demanded money for a border wall with Mexico.

Trump last year also rescinded Barack Obama’s DACA program, and created a deadline of March 5 for Congress to create a legislative solution.
read more

No comments:

Post a Comment