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We May Be Saying Goodbye to Government Shutdowns For Good Thanks to Conservative Senators
Townhall.com ^ | January 12, 2019 | Beth Bauman

Posted on 01/12/2019 5:27:20 PM PST by Kaslin

A group of conservative Senators on Friday introduced legislation to permanently keep the federal government open and prevent future shutdowns. The End Government Shutdowns would automatically create continually resolutions, which continues funding agencies even when politicians are debating on the budget.

The bill is sponsored by Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who has introduced the legislation every year since he was elected to the Senate in 2010, Deseret News reported. Sens. Steve Daines (MT), Mike Lee (UT), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Chuck Grassley (IA), Johnny Isakson (GA), Mike Enzi (WY), John Barrasso (WY), and Jim Risch (ID) have all signed onto the bill. 

The reason the bill has come forward is simple: Portman wants lawmakers to create budgets while discouraging "last-minute, haphazard stopgap" measures, like continuing resolutions. 

"This legislation will accomplish that goal, providing lawmakers with more time to reach a responsible resolution to budget negotiations, giving federal workers and their families more stability, and ensuring we avoid disruptions that ultimately hurt our economy, taxpayers and working families," Portman said in a statement.

"And it provides stability and predictability without allowing Congress to pat ourselves on the back for averting a self-made crisis," Lee said. "Shutdowns create instability and unpredictability not only in government, but also for many families and businesses that interact with the federal government. Shutdowns are not a responsible way to govern."

The bill would automatically create continuing resolutions for those regular appropriation bills that are not approved of by Oct 1. After the first 120 days, the funding would be reduced by one percent. It would then be reduced by one percent again every 90 days Congress fails to pass a spending bill.

The current government shutdown is the longest shutdown in U.S. history, with more than 800,000 federal government workers furloughed or working without pay.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: chuckgrassley; govshutdown; govtshutdown; mikelee; robportman; traitors
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To: Sarah Barracuda

TERM LIMITS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


21 posted on 01/12/2019 5:44:25 PM PST by mplc51
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To: Blue Collar Christian

Mike Lee should know better. Guess his bad case of TDS is flaring up again.


22 posted on 01/12/2019 5:45:25 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!)
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To: max americana
Calling Murkowski “conservative” is like calling satan “Christian”..

Oh, I never meant to imply that Murkowski and most of the others mentioned are conservative. They are the furthest thing from conservative, which is why I called them what I did.

23 posted on 01/12/2019 5:46:05 PM PST by EinNYC
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To: Kaslin

POTUS needs to veto this if it comes to him.


24 posted on 01/12/2019 5:46:06 PM PST by jospehm20
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To: Jim Robinson

The US Constitution is a ‘charter of negative liberties’ according to Barack Hussein Obama.


25 posted on 01/12/2019 5:47:37 PM PST by griswold3 (Just another unlicensed nonconformist in a dangerous Liberal world.)
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To: EinNYC

No Democrat is going to support this...

Every 90 days without a budget... the CR cuts spending across the board by 1%.

This would actually be a way to automatically balance the budget...


26 posted on 01/12/2019 5:48:05 PM PST by rwilson99 (How exactly would John 3:16 not apply to Mary?)
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To: erkelly

Reducing spending is conservative


27 posted on 01/12/2019 5:48:37 PM PST by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: rwilson99

One if 20 that read the article


28 posted on 01/12/2019 5:49:18 PM PST by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: Fungi

“”This legislation will accomplish that goal, providing lawmakers with more time to reach a responsible resolution to budget negotiations”

MORE TIME? For peat’s sake, the budget is an annual process! How in the hell can they “legislate themselves” more time! We should put these feckless turds out of office at the earliest point that we can.


29 posted on 01/12/2019 5:49:40 PM PST by vette6387
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To: jjotto

That’s one way to cut the budget. I don’t like it but something has got to be done about government spending.
Doubt Nancy will pass it in the House.


30 posted on 01/12/2019 5:49:46 PM PST by griswold3 (Just another unlicensed nonconformist in a dangerous Liberal world.)
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To: EinNYC

Actually it could save money as it doesn’t allow for increases.


31 posted on 01/12/2019 5:50:20 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Twitter is Trump's laser pointer and the media are all cats.)
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To: Blue Collar Christian

Looks like Mike Lee has been smoked out.


32 posted on 01/12/2019 5:50:58 PM PST by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: Jim Robinson
Mike Lee should know better.

He’s become a major disappointment.

33 posted on 01/12/2019 5:54:12 PM PST by windsorknot
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To: Kaslin

Bad idea. Just creates easy excuses for not doing their job.

I could really get behind a law that outlawed continuing resolutions or anything like that.

Most Americans live on a budget. No reason why our government can’t. Except lazy politicians.


34 posted on 01/12/2019 5:54:29 PM PST by upchuck (The caravan(s) is all about gaming the American system to harvest the free stuff. ~ Monica Showalter)
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To: Kaslin
The bill is sponsored by Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who has introduced the legislation every year since he was elected to the Senate in 2010, Deseret News reported. Sens. Steve Daines (MT), Mike Lee (UT), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Chuck Grassley (IA), Johnny Isakson (GA), Mike Enzi (WY), John Barrasso (WY), and Jim Risch (ID) have all signed onto the bill.

The headline said "conservative". These are a bunch of leftist democRATs in disguise.

Guess the headline writer is lying.

35 posted on 01/12/2019 5:56:25 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Kaslin

Another jerk.


36 posted on 01/12/2019 6:01:17 PM PST by mulligan (EeThe)
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To: Fungi
We need and amendment that states that the government came only spend 15% of GNP. If so, then all politicians will lose their pay and retirement and be terminated.
37 posted on 01/12/2019 6:06:05 PM PST by stubernx98 (cranky, but reasonable)
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To: Kaslin

Actually I think this is a good idea!

It puts the cross hairs back on the policy disagreement and not on political histrionics. It takes the federal worker off the stage and focuses it on the wall! The purpose of the wall! No longer can you trot out a unionized federal worker and have him publicly pull at the heartstrings of the suburban mom. Now you bring out examples of people who are really affected by the lack if a wall! THE VICTIMS! Who are the Rats going to trot out 30 year old DACA MS-13 gangbanger? Whoever the Rats bring out won’t have the same effect as the victims of these criminals!


38 posted on 01/12/2019 6:11:25 PM PST by Reily
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To: Kaslin

This well meant idea is, unfortunately, sheer idiocy for the shortsighted.

Federal bureaucracies are enormous, and very powerful. Look at what we are dealing with at DOJ/FBI/IRS/BLM/EPA etc.

Some current or future executive, or Congress may want to exact a concession, grant a favor or partially defund an agency.

No sane Congress would pass such a law, and no sane President would sign it.

Idiocy for weak idiots.


39 posted on 01/12/2019 6:18:07 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Kaslin

That’s a big NO! ....Mitch shouldn’t even allow a vote on such a bill, because he knows POTUS would not sign such.

CRs just kick that can down the road and reducing the funding by 1% after 4 months and again after another 3 months wont penalize anyone. ....At the least, penalties should be 20% every month.

The headline/article is in error, as these Senators are just GOP-e types; NOT Conservatives.


40 posted on 01/12/2019 6:31:47 PM PST by octex
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