Congress Returns From Its Recess, And a Government Shutdown Looms

Government Executive / The Atlantic ^ | Sep 8, 2015 | Krishnadev Calamur

[Stand Watch Listen]

Lawmakers return to Washington today from their summer recess, and the upcoming session is already being billed a “countdown to shutdown.”

Republican leaders have lost the fight over the nuclear deal with Iran. Their next challenge is funding for Planned Parenthood.

My colleague Russell Berman has the state of play:

With federal funding set to expire on September 30, conservatives are once again demanding a standoff that Boehner and McConnell are hell-bent on avoiding. This time around, the issue that might prevent an orderly—if temporary—extension of funding is Planned Parenthood. Along with Cruz, House conservatives insist that any spending bill sent to President Obama’s desk explicitly prohibit taxpayer dollars from going to the women’s health organization, which has come under fire over undercover videos that purportedly show its officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue. Democrats have rallied around Planned Parenthood, and an effort to ax its approximately $500 million in annual funding is likely to fall short, either by running into a filibuster in the Senate or a presidential veto.

Here’s National Journal:

And as dissatisfaction with their leadership peaks on the right, it remains un¬clear what consequences could arise for top Republicans if they fail to deliver on sought-after conservative demands, particularly stripping Planned Parenthood of roughly $500 million in annual federal funding. … [T]he fight over Planned Parenthood was delayed by the August recess, but is likely to come to a head again as Congress debates how to prevent a shutdown on Oct. 1, when the government’s funding expires. Neither chamber has a funding plan in place (though a short-term continuing resolution appears likely) and conservative leaders are still seething over undercover videos that allege that the organization illegally sold fetal tissue, allegations the group vigorously denies. .

Politico adds that……………………………

[Stand Watch Listen]

The Government 2015 Fiscal Year ends this Sep 30. The budget Congress needs to present to the president is for Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16). As I set forth in post #8 above ...Congress does not meet the Fiscal Year Sep 30 deadline.

Hence they will simply present a 'continuing resolution' to fund the federal government for a set number of weeks/months. Then the worthless bastards will do it all over again.

I cannot recall, if ever, that the Government under Obama has ever passed a finalized budget. Just a series of continuing resolutions.

In reference to your retirement question, there has been numerous 'rumors' regarding the government absconding with the populace IRA and 401K retirement accounts to balance the budget. If I recall correctly the total amount of these retirement accounts is > $23-24 Trillion.

I've read that the government would ensure a 3% return on our confiscated monies. Sweet deal eh?

[Stand Watch Listen]

No, no one can set forth an example for your proposed challenge. The only 'fight', the only instance of backbone is Boehner/McConnell giving hell to their primary opponents, giving total opposition to elected Tea Party members of the House/Senate.

The energy, the 'fire-in-the-belly orations, the stated principles are never utilized against the Democrat party and certainly not in evidence in any way against this president.

[Osage Orange]

Gobment is shut down every Sat/Sun....52 times a year.

Doesn't seem to be a problem.............

[Revel]

Thanks

At the rate we are going then the official debt will be shown on record as the same as it is now. Of course that is a huge deception. But we are living in the greatest age of fraud and deception ever known.