Shutdown risk looms on US govt; know why
PTC News Desk: The United States House of Representatives reconvenes this week for an expected political war over spending cuts and impeachment, which could stall the Republican-controlled chamber as Congress tries to prevent a government shutdown.
The House and the Democratic-controlled Senate are scheduled to meet for roughly 12 days before funding ends on Sept. 30, leaving little time to agree on a package of 12 appropriations bills that can pass each chamber and be signed by Democratic President Joe Biden.
The key point of contention among House Republicans is a demand by around three dozen members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus to reduce spending for fiscal 2024 to $1.47 trillion, which is about $120 billion less than what Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed to in May.
That demand has been rebuffed by the White House and Senate leaders, notably senior Republican Mitch McConnell.
This disagreement, as well as other hardline demands, such as opposition to Ukraine aid and calls for an impeachment inquiry into Biden, could jeopardize efforts to pass a short-term stopgap measure known as a continuing resolution, or "CR," that would keep federal agencies running while lawmakers debate full-scale appropriations.
"Everything's coming to a head after a long recess," Republican Representative Kelly Armstrong told Reuters, referring to the House's six-week summer recess, which ends Tuesday. "With a five-vote majority, we're a pretty diverse caucus. So threading the needle is an extremely difficult task."
McCarthy's eight-month speakership might be jeopardized if he seeks Democratic support to avoid a government shutdown or fails to go forward with an impeachment investigation that former President Donald Trump's House allies want despite a lack of votes.
Political brinkmanship over the debt ceiling has already forced Fitch to downgrade US debt from AAA to AA , owing in part to constant last-minute talks that compromise the government's ability to pay its bills.
Failure to enact $24 billion in supplemental funding for Ukraine and $16 billion for disaster-stricken areas in states such as Hawaii and Florida, according to White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, could endanger lives while delaying money to tackle the deadly opioid fentanyl.
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- With inputs from agencies
