With just 12 days left to approve a short-term government funding bill before the shutdown deadline, Congress is facing increasing pressure to avoid a lapse in funding. House GOP leaders attempted to pass a six-month continuing resolution with a voter ID law attached, but were unsuccessful. This has opened up potential for negotiations with the Senate, but time is running out as Congress prepares to depart for a six-week election break.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has urged his colleagues to avoid a shutdown, calling it “politically, beyond stupid.” The final stopgap spending bill is likely to last through December 20 and may include additional funding for the Secret Service to bolster President Trump’s security.
In a year filled with election-year drama, the failure to approve full-year government funding bills before the October 1 deadline has become increasingly dramatic. Lawmakers are facing pressure to reach a bipartisan agreement to avoid a shutdown that would impact essential government departments and agencies.
Despite the challenges, lawmakers seem determined to avoid a shutdown. Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson stated, “I don’t think anybody wants to shut the government down. That’s not a viable option.” As Congress works to find a consensus in the days ahead, the fate of the government funding bill remains uncertain.
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