BREAKING NEWS: House is set to kick can down the road and AVERT government shutdown for 45 days with short-term spending bill
LATEST NEWS: House poised to override Can and shut down AVERT government for 45 days with short-term spending bill
Representatives of the House of Representatives vote less than twelve hours before a deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
Saturday’s emergency measure introduced by Republicans to keep the government funded effectively kicks the crisis in the bud by delaying a shutdown by at least 45 days.
The proposal is currently being voted on, with Republican Chairman Kevin McCarthy leading plans to avoid a shutdown on Saturday.
It came as a surprise to many lawmakers, who were deep in discussions about how to mitigate the effects of a shutdown.
On Friday, McCarthy faced a humiliating loss when his own party failed to pass a funding bill that would have averted the crisis, leaving 3.5 million federal workers at risk of going without pay if an eleventh-hour deal isn’t reached .
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy arrives on Capitol Hill Saturday ahead of the 11 a.m. vote to try to prevent a government shutdown
President Joe Biden will meet with his Cabinet early next week to discuss how the government will function after the expected shutdown begins Sunday.
There are fears that the government shutdown could continue for weeks
McCarthy’s bill needs two-thirds of House members to pass it, meaning Republicans will need help from Democratic colleagues to get it passed.
The proposal will be voted on later today by the Democratic-majority Senate.
If it fails to secure a majority vote, the government will be shut down at midnight tonight.
The House Speaker’s change of heart means he is now at risk of being ousted from his job by other Republicans.
As fears about the shutdown grow, President Biden is preparing to convene his Cabinet next week to discuss how the government will function.