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| Congress rushes again to pass budget deal amid fresh bipartisan opposition | Congress rushes again to pass budget deal amid fresh bipartisan opposition |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Congressional leaders were rushing on Thursday to pass a far-reaching, bipartisan budget deal that would raise federal spending levels for the next two years as lawmakers run up against yet another midnight deadline to avoid a government shutdown. | Congressional leaders were rushing on Thursday to pass a far-reaching, bipartisan budget deal that would raise federal spending levels for the next two years as lawmakers run up against yet another midnight deadline to avoid a government shutdown. |
| But the deal that leaders have touted as a “significant bipartisan achievement”, faces fresh opposition from staunch Republican conservatives and from Democrats who are frustrated the measure does not address immigration reform. | But the deal that leaders have touted as a “significant bipartisan achievement”, faces fresh opposition from staunch Republican conservatives and from Democrats who are frustrated the measure does not address immigration reform. |
| The Senate was expected to pass the measure with strong support from Democrats and Republicans on Thursday before sending the bill to the House, where its fate was less certain. | The Senate was expected to pass the measure with strong support from Democrats and Republicans on Thursday before sending the bill to the House, where its fate was less certain. |
| When the US Congress fails to pass appropriate funding for government operations and agencies, a shutdown is triggered. Most government services are frozen, barring those that are deemed “essential”, such as the work of the Department of Homeland Security and FBI. During a shutdown, nearly 40% of the government workforce is placed on unpaid furlough and told not to work. Many, but not all, are non-defense federal employees. Active duty military personnel are not furloughed. | When the US Congress fails to pass appropriate funding for government operations and agencies, a shutdown is triggered. Most government services are frozen, barring those that are deemed “essential”, such as the work of the Department of Homeland Security and FBI. During a shutdown, nearly 40% of the government workforce is placed on unpaid furlough and told not to work. Many, but not all, are non-defense federal employees. Active duty military personnel are not furloughed. |
| Members of Congress are at an impasse over what should be included in a spending bill to keep the government open. | Members of Congress are at an impasse over what should be included in a spending bill to keep the government open. |
| There have been 13 government shutdowns in the US since 1981, although ranging in duration. The longest occurred under Bill Clinton, lasting a total of 21 days from December 1995 to January 1996, when the then House speaker, Newt Gingrich, demanded sharp cuts to government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and welfare. | There have been 13 government shutdowns in the US since 1981, although ranging in duration. The longest occurred under Bill Clinton, lasting a total of 21 days from December 1995 to January 1996, when the then House speaker, Newt Gingrich, demanded sharp cuts to government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and welfare. |
| The most recent shutdown took place from 20-22 January this year. It was resolved with a three-week spending deal now coming to an end. | The most recent shutdown took place from 20-22 January this year. It was resolved with a three-week spending deal now coming to an end. |
| A government shutdown would cost the US roughly $6.5bn a week, according to a recent report by S&P Global analysts. “A disruption in government spending means no government paychecks to spend; lost business and revenue to private contractors; lost sales at retail shops, particularly those that circle now-closed national parks; and less tax revenue for Uncle Sam,” the report stated. “That means less economic activity and fewer jobs.” | A government shutdown would cost the US roughly $6.5bn a week, according to a recent report by S&P Global analysts. “A disruption in government spending means no government paychecks to spend; lost business and revenue to private contractors; lost sales at retail shops, particularly those that circle now-closed national parks; and less tax revenue for Uncle Sam,” the report stated. “That means less economic activity and fewer jobs.” |
| Nearly 1 million people would not receive regular paychecks in the event of a shutdown. In previous shutdowns, furloughed employees have been paid retrospectively – but those payments have often been delayed. | Nearly 1 million people would not receive regular paychecks in the event of a shutdown. In previous shutdowns, furloughed employees have been paid retrospectively – but those payments have often been delayed. |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | Sabrina Siddiqui |
| The plan agreed to by Republicans and Democrats would raise defense and non-defense spending by $300bn and provide billions of additional dollars in disaster relief funding for areas ravaged by wildfires and hurricanes last year. It would also lift the federal debt limit until March 2019, allowing the government to take on new debt for the next year. | |
| Perhaps most urgently, the measure would fund the government for another six weeks, through 23 March, while lawmakers draft the long-term spending bill that would run through the rest of the fiscal year. Funding for the federal government expires at midnight on Thursday. | Perhaps most urgently, the measure would fund the government for another six weeks, through 23 March, while lawmakers draft the long-term spending bill that would run through the rest of the fiscal year. Funding for the federal government expires at midnight on Thursday. |
| But the deal does not resolve the thorny issue of immigration reform, an issue that has bedeviled lawmakers for decades. Democrats sought to bind the issue of immigration to budget negotiations as a way of exerting leverage over Republicans and forcing a vote on legislation that would protect young undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. | But the deal does not resolve the thorny issue of immigration reform, an issue that has bedeviled lawmakers for decades. Democrats sought to bind the issue of immigration to budget negotiations as a way of exerting leverage over Republicans and forcing a vote on legislation that would protect young undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. |
| The Senate Republican majority leader, Mitch McConnell, unveiled the deal, which stretches to more than 650 pages, on Wednesday. | The Senate Republican majority leader, Mitch McConnell, unveiled the deal, which stretches to more than 650 pages, on Wednesday. |
| McConnell said in a floor speech ahead of the vote. “This is our best chance to begin rebuilding our military and make progress on issues directly affecting the American people.” | |
| The Senate appeared to have the votes to pass the budget bill – and little appetite for a shutdown, after a failure to reach an agreement last month led to a brief, three-day shutdown of the federal government. | The Senate appeared to have the votes to pass the budget bill – and little appetite for a shutdown, after a failure to reach an agreement last month led to a brief, three-day shutdown of the federal government. |
| Senate Democrats relented and allowed the government to reopen only after extracting a promise from McConnell that he would allow a debate on legislation to protect the Dreamers, young people whose protections from deportations Trump has ordered to expire on 5 March. | |
| But the calculus is less certain in the House, where opposition to a budget deal runs across the political spectrum. | |
| Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, said she would not support the measure without a firm commitment from the speaker, Paul Ryan, to allow an open debate on immigration reform. She said she hoped Ryan would “man up” and make the same pledge McConnell made to Senate Democrats. | Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, said she would not support the measure without a firm commitment from the speaker, Paul Ryan, to allow an open debate on immigration reform. She said she hoped Ryan would “man up” and make the same pledge McConnell made to Senate Democrats. |
| Pelosi spent a record eight hours speaking on the House floor on Wednesday in an attempt to persuade Republicans to allow a vote on immigration legislation. | |
| Pelosi on Thursday said she believed the budget agreement was a “good bill”. | Pelosi on Thursday said she believed the budget agreement was a “good bill”. |
| “I’m pleased with the product,” Pelosi said of the deal, which her staff helped negotiate. “I’m not pleased with the process.” But asked if she would pressure her caucus to oppose the bill, she said: “I’m just telling people why I’m voting the way I’m voting.” | |
| Hours later, House Democratic leadership sent a notice to members urging them to vote against the budget measure, according to a Democratic aide. That notice was then followed by a note from Pelosi that outlined her opposition to the bill but stopped short of directing members how to vote. | |
| The advisories created confusion among House Democrats, and by mid-afternoon a meeting was scheduled to discuss the budget deal. | |
| Meanwhile, on the other side of the Capitol, Republican Senator Rand Paul stalled a vote on the budget deal in an effort to win a concession from leadership to bring to the floor his amendment to restore the budget caps. If the impasse is not resolved, the earliest the Senate could take up the vote would be early Friday morning, after the government runs out of funding. | |
| Ryan, meanwhile, was still wrangling support from his caucus in the House as the clock ticked toward a midnight deadline. | |
| Dozens of House Republicans are expected to oppose the legislation because of its impact on the federal debt and the increase in spending on domestic programs. Ryan nevertheless expressed confidence that the House would gather enough votes to pass the two-year spending bill. | |
| He also said he would commit to bring immigration legislation the president would sign to the floor. He added that Congress must pass the budget so that lawmakers could turn to immigration, which must be resolved by next month. | |
| “To anyone who doubts my intention to solve this problem and bring up a Daca and immigration reform bill, do not,” Ryan said. |