Thursday, October 1, 2020

Shutdown Averted

From News Nation:

“Shutdown averted: Pres. Trump signs bill to fund government through December 11”

President Donald Trump has signed a bill to fund the government through Dec. 11, a White House spokesman announced minutes after the midnight Wednesday deadline to avert the possibility of a government shutdown. White House spokesman Judd Deere confirmed on Twitter Thursday just before 1 a.m. ET that the president signed the stopgap spending measure, known as a continuing resolution. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had told reporters that the president would sign the bill as soon as he returns to the White House early Thursday. Trump traveled to Minnesota for a campaign rally Thursday night. As in past episodes in which the government experienced a brief funding lapse, any post-midnight lapse would have no immediate effects on federal operations.

The legislation — which keeps the government running through Dec. 11, 2020 — was approved by sweeping bipartisan agreement ahead of the start of a new fiscal year Thursday. The Senate passed the measure by an 84-10 vote Wednesday. The House passed the bill last week. The temporary extension will set the stage for a lame-duck session of Congress later this year, where the agenda will be largely determined by the outcome of the presidential election. The stopgap spending bill is required because the GOP-controlled Senate has not acted on any of the 12 annual spending bills that fund the 30% of the government’s budget that is passed by Congress each year. The measure is the bare minimum accomplishment for Capitol Hill’s powerful Appropriations committees, who pride themselves on their deal-making abilities despite gridlock in other corners of Congress. The measure also extends many programs whose funding or authorizations lapse on Sept. 30, including the federal flood insurance program, highway and transit programs, and a long set of extensions of various health programs, such as a provision to prevent Medicaid cuts to hospitals that serve many poor people. It also finances the possible transition to a new administration if Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins the White House and would stave off an unwelcome COVID-caused increase in Medicare Part B premiums for outpatient doctor visits. Farm interests won language that would permit Trump’s farm bailout to continue without fear of interruption. In exchange, House Democrats won $8 billion in food aid for the poor.

^ It was very difficult to find any information – even after the 12 am deadline – about the possible Shutdown. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/shutdown-averted-pres-trump-signs-bill-to-fund-government-through-december-11/

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.