NEWS
Government Shutdown Deadline Draws Near As White House Warns Of Potential Impacts
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Lawmakers have less than a week to avoid a government shutdown, and there has been little progress toward a resolution as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) struggles to unite House Republicans behind a deal.
Republicans hold a four-seat majority in the House, but a faction of conservative lawmakers have blocked McCarthy’s attempts to pass a continuing resolution, which would keep temporarily keep the government open while negotiations continue on the full budget.
Some Republicans have demanded an end to military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, which invaded the country last year, along with cuts to domestic programs.
More moderate Republicans teamed with Democrats in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and last week unveiled a plan to use a discharge petition to circumvent McCarthy and bring a bill to the floor for a vote without him.
Caucus co-chair Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.) appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that the Problem Solvers Caucus “will do whatever it takes to get that bill on the floor.”
“We don’t allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good and we take the perspective that we’d rather get 80% of something rather than 100% of nothing,” Fitzpatrick said.
On Monday, the White House warned that nearly 7 million women and children could lose food assistance through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) if the government shuts down. According to the White House, the WIC program serves nearly half of babies born in the U.S.
“Extreme House Republicans are playing partisan games with peoples’ lives,” the White House said in a statement. “House Republicans have turned their backs on the bipartisan budget deal that a large majority of them voted for just a few months ago and proposed a continuing resolution (CR) that makes devastating cuts to programs that millions of hardworking Americans count on.”
The plans advanced by more conservative House lawmakers would be dead on arrival the Democrat-led Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said he is in talks with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to potentially pass a bill through their chamber first.
TMX contributed to this article.
