September 26, 2023
The Senate has just made a move that could avoid a government shutdown in a few days.
They have just overwhelmingly voted (77-19) to begin working on a bipartisan continuing resolution deal that would temporarily keep the government open until November 17th. This bill would keep all the current funding levels for all government agencies and departments status quo but will also include about $6 billion in additional money for Ukraine – $4.5 billion of that is for our own Defense Department. It also includes an additional $6 billion for FEMA to address natural disasters like the wildfires in Maui, flooding in Vermont and hurricane damage in Florida. The plan would also extend FAA programs that are also set to expire on October 1st.
Now –there is a long way to go between today’s vote and a final vote to actually pass this bill. In order for this continuing resolution to be passed before the government shuts down on October 1st it must have the support of all 100 Senators to fast track it. Because of the Senate rules, if one Senator objects, the bill has to go through regular voting procedures which will take us passed the shutdown deadline. Senator Rand Paul has already said he will do all he can to slow this bill down.
If this continuing resolution can somehow pass the senate before the government shuts down — it sets up a major showdown with the house.
While Speaker McCarthy has said repeatedly he wants the government to stay open – he also wants to make sure any bill that passes the house includes all the very conservative priorities he promised the far-right members of his party, including strict new border politics and has no funding for Ukraine. This senate bill is the opposite of that.
Regardless of what happens now in the Senate — tonight, the House is planning to vote on four long term spending bills for the Defense, Agriculture and State departments as well as Homeland Security. But even if those pass, none of them will prevent the government from shutting down.
At this point – time is running out. If there is no deal between the House and Senate that’s signed by the President by this Saturday, September 30th, the government will shut down at midnight.
