As lawmakers proceed to argue over each coronavirus stimulus and a brand new Supreme Courtroom nominee, Congress has managed to agree on at the
As lawmakers proceed to argue over each coronavirus stimulus and a brand new Supreme Courtroom nominee, Congress has managed to agree on at the very least one factor: avoiding a authorities shutdown.
The Senate on Wednesday handed a seamless decision, or short-term invoice, that may fund the federal government by means of December 11, simply forward of the annual fiscal 12 months deadline that comes on the finish of September. The laws superior 84-10, and can permit authorities companies to proceed utilizing federal funds till Congress passes a full spending invoice for the 2021 fiscal 12 months that begins October 1. The Home handed the measure 359-57 final week, which implies it now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk the place he’s anticipated to signal it.
The decision broadly continues funding for federal companies at current ranges, however has a further $eight billion for vitamin assist that Democrats pushed for in addition to language renewing cash for the USDA’s Commodity Credit score Company, which Republicans have been keen to incorporate to keep up a supply of assist for farmers.
Whereas holding up authorities funding had been floated as a possible means for Congressional Democrats to delay the Supreme Courtroom affirmation course of, Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi finally dismissed the concept. “Properly, none of us has any curiosity in shutting down authorities. That has such a dangerous and painful impression on so many individuals in our nation,” she stated final week throughout an look on ABC.
Lawmakers from each events wound up supporting this funding laws, guaranteeing that, for now, a shutdown gained’t be among the many slew of issues Congress is already struggling to navigate.
Authorities funding is presently one of many least contentious points in Congress
Whereas battles over authorities funding have resulted in intensive shutdowns up to now — together with one in 2019 that lasted 35 days — this problem has confirmed to be one of many least contentious that lawmakers are coping with amid an ongoing pandemic and a fierce Supreme Courtroom battle.
For months, there’s been little motion on coronavirus assist at the same time as thousands and thousands of Individuals proceed to take care of layoffs and hundreds of small companies weigh completely closing.
Home Democrats on Monday unveiled a brand new model of the HEROES Act, which incorporates $2.2 trillion in stimulus that will lengthen a $600 weekly unemployment insurance coverage complement, fund one other spherical of direct stimulus funds, and supply assist to state and metropolis governments. Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have additionally resumed their talks and met each Monday and Wednesday — although there’s little indication of recent progress on a compromise.
The Senate can be gearing up for an intense affirmation battle over Trump’s Supreme Courtroom nominee Decide Amy Coney Barrett, who would solidify a 6-Three conservative majority on the excessive court docket if she is accepted. Whereas Senate Republicans had refused to advance President Obama’s Supreme Courtroom nominee in an election 12 months, they’ve modified course and are transferring to swiftly vet and maintain a affirmation listening to for Barrett previous to the election on November 3.
Democrats have emphasised that Barrett could possibly be the deciding vote in undoing the Reasonably priced Care Act, and are actually within the technique of weighing how they’ll reply to the affirmation course of.
With its approval of the short-term funding invoice, nevertheless, Congress has punted one in every of its debates for an additional couple of months. It should take up the problem once more in December, presumably after the affirmation hearings and pandemic assist package deal are settled enterprise.
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