Spending bill to get key Senate vote as clock ticks down to government shutdown
The Senate is gearing up for a key procedural vote on Friday afternoon, with the aim of passing a crucial stopgap government spending bill to prevent a shutdown as time ticks away. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, after tense caucus meetings, announced that he would vote in favor of the House-passed short-term spending bill, also known as a continuing resolution (CR). Schumer emphasized that a shutdown would play into the hands of President Donald Trump and the Republicans, prompting the Friday cloture vote to be scheduled shortly after his announcement on Thursday evening.
The stopgap bill will need 60 favorable votes to overcome the legislative filibuster and move towards a final passage vote. Failure to pass a spending bill by the deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Friday would result in a partial government shutdown, halting federal agencies and non-essential services. Nevertheless, essential government functions such as national security protocols, border patrol, law enforcement, and disaster response would remain active during a shutdown.
The House Republicans successfully passed a CR earlier in the week, maintaining spending levels at the FY 2024 levels until October 1. However, a failure to pass a spending bill by the deadline would trigger a partial government shutdown. While Schumer and some Senate Democrats have pledged their support for the CR, the majority of their colleagues have publicly declared their opposition to the bill.
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff criticized the House budget proposal, arguing that it lacked constraints on the Trump Administration. Despite Democrats pushing for a 30-day CR, Republicans remained steadfast on the House-passed plan. The contentious debate within the Democratic caucus reached a boiling point, with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand reportedly heard yelling during a caucus meeting behind closed doors.
Senator John Fetterman criticized his Democratic colleagues for opposing the short-term bill, labeling their video announcements as “spicy.” Fetterman emphasized that while the CR may not be ideal, it was the current choice at hand. If the procedural vote on Friday successfully surpasses the legislative filibuster, a final passage vote will be scheduled within the next day and a half, potentially sooner if parties reach a time agreement.
In conclusion, the Senate faces a critical juncture as they navigate the path towards passing a stopgap government spending bill to avert a shutdown. The decision-making process within the Democratic caucus reflects the complexity and urgency of the situation at hand. With the fate of government funding hanging in the balance, all eyes are on the Senate as they strive to reach a resolution before the deadline.
