After several days in which a shutdown appeared all but certain, Congress moved quickly on Saturday to overcome a financial shortfall and postpone Washington’s spending debates until later this fall.
With three hours left before a deadline of midnight, the Senate finally voted on the issue of funding for Ukraine after one more postponement on Saturday evening. The resolution is sent to President Biden’s desk for his signature after receiving an overwhelmingly bipartisan majority of 88-9.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced, “I have very good news for the country: The government will remain open.”
Business leaders have been concerned about the potential economic harm that could result from a prolonged shutdown, while some have already reacted with joy.
Joshua Bolten, CEO of Business Roundtable, said in a statement released shortly after the vote on Saturday that “we thank Members of Congress for working together to prevent a shutdown and encourage the House and Senate to pass a long-term spending measure as soon as possible.”
The breakthrough occurred early on Saturday when House Speaker Kevin McCarthy abruptly reversed course and proposed a package with broad bipartisan support. The 71-page bill was approved by the House by a vote of 335-91, with 90 Republicans and 1 Democrat voting against it.
McCarthy claimed at a press conference on Saturday that he had “tried every possible way” to work with extreme-right Republicans, but that in the end, “I wanted to be part of a conservative group that gets things done.”
The package is almost certainly going to be passed before any economic losses associated with a shutdown would start to accumulate as of Monday morning because President Biden lauded it shortly after final passage was achieved and is anticipated to sign it as soon as possible.
It shouldn’t have been this difficult, said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, in a statement. “It’s a relief and good news that we won’t have a government shutdown.”
Making sure that we don’t repeat this process in six weeks is the current problem, she continued.
The Bipartisan Policy Center’s president and CEO, Margaret Spellings, noted in her own statement that “yet another budget crisis that would have inflicted pain and uncertainty on American households and the economy has been averted with bipartisan passage of a short-term funding deal.”
The last-minute legislation also seems to be on track to spare the aviation sector from a potential double blow. It will avert a shutdown, which could have lengthened security lineups by requiring TSA employees to work without pay, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) authorisation lapse, which was also set to occur this weekend.
In order to give Congress more time to work on both concerns, the last-minute package includes legislation that delays a shutdown and also temporarily reauthorizes the FAA for even longer, through the end of the year.
In a statement, the chairmen of the House Transportation Committee, Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), said that the agreement was “vital to ensuring the safe and efficient operation of America’s aviation system” but added that a long-term authorization for the FAA would also be required.
The package includes $16 billion for disaster relief operations but no more funding for Ukraine, which has been a major cause of contention for House Republicans recently. The shutdown was expected to substantially impair FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which was already depleted due to recent hurricane damage in Florida and wildfire damage in Maui.
House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted on Saturday night that “Senate Republicans remain committed to helping our friends on the front lines,” and he added, “I am confident the Senate will pass further urgent assistance to Ukraine later this year.”
McCarthy also abandoned GOP efforts to include border conditions in any deal, as well as efforts to reduce federal spending for the time being. Saturday’s measure keeps funding at current levels.
Even if economic analysts are relieved that one threat to the economy is no longer a concern, early indications indicate that the budget disputes will almost certainly resurface around Thanksgiving when a government shutdown might once more become a concern on November 17.
A challenge to McCarthy’s speakership between now and then seems likely from at least some of the Republicans who opposed his last-minute inclination towards bipartisanship.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who abstained on the measure, charged McCarthy with surrendering to Democrats and asked, “Should he remain Speaker of the House?”
Are we certain that Hakeem Jeffries is not speaking? Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) added another GOP no vote in reference to the Democratic leader.
McCarthy retorted, “Go ahead and attempt to remove [me] because I want to be the adult in the room.