Congress races to beat deadline on shutdown

The Hill ^ | 5 Dec 19 | BY JORDAIN CARNEY AND NIV ELIS

[SkyPilot]

Congress is racing the clock as they rush to prevent another shutdown poised to start in two weeks.

Though lawmakers have until Dec. 20 to get a funding bill to President Trump’s desk, negotiators say they really have just a matter of days to reach a deal on the fiscal 2020 bills to prevent having to approve another stopgap measure, formally known as a continuing resolution (CR).

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer warned Republicans that a wall was a “non-starter for Democrats” and that drawing red lines on the border could result in “another Trump shutdown.”

“We had hoped the president had learned his lesson, but it appears a year after losing the same battle, the president is considering a repeat of history,” Schumer said.

Republicans, however, say Democrats are trying to break a two-year budget deal by including restrictions on Trump’s ability to shift money to the wall in the spending bills.

“We’re stalled. We’re stalled because the agreement that we all reached in the summer has not been honored by the other side,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Lawmakers have three options if they’re going to avoid a shutdown days before the Christmas holiday: Get a deal on the 12 fiscal 2020 bills, pass another stopgap bill, or some combination of both.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said the next few days would be “crucial” as lawmakers have struggled to make progress this week.

“We’ve talked a lot and not done a lot. We’ve just got a few days,” Shelby said. “I’m not as optimistic as I was Sunday when I came back here.”

The tight time frame has sparked a flurry of behind-the-scenes negotiations: Subcommittee heads are meeting around the Capitol, and Shelby spoke by phone on Wednesday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

[hal ogen]

Your recommendation for this poltroon is what he likely does much of the time anyway.

[Ingtar]

LOL - they have to resolve it before their “impeachment” goes to the Senate, or the Senate cannot vote on it until their trial is finished.

[Ingtar]

The Republicans are always blamed by the media. The great unwashed masses tend to believe the media.

[SkyPilot]

Yeah, I couldn’t figure out that comment.

[smvoice]

She needs to be put on a prayer chain concerning her drinking. I’ll get right on that..

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

The Republicans are always blamed by the media. The great unwashed masses tend to believe the media.

So Trump has to keep signing budget bills without border funding because people believe the media. Even if the GOP takes the House in 2020, remember that some Rs get open borders money.

[ballplayer]

https://www.conservativereview.com/news/senate-summarily-dismiss-impeachment-turn-impeaching-sanctuary-cities/?utm_content=bufferbe998&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=fb-conservativereview

[eyeamok]

We’re stalled because the agreement that we all reached in the summer has not been honored by the other side,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

This is when the Turtle should have called for the Senate to be in Recess and slammed the Gavel Down. When the House comes to their senses we will end the Senate Recess.