*Government Shutdown
We already saw Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget go down in flames when House Republicans attempted their appropriations process on the House Floor (and had to pull from consideration the only bill that was at the Ryan budget level). Now CQ reports that more House Republicans are recognizing this is an unrealistic budget for the conference committee to consider:
“Mr. Speaker, we have ten days left in this session, this year's session, according to the schedule. We're supposed to adjourn on December 13 – somewhat ironically, Friday the 13th – and yet, Mr. Speaker, we see time is running out, and we're not addressing the critical issue and the critical responsibility of funding the government, of applying resources to our priorities.
With the House scheduled to be in session for just 11 days through the end of the year, time is running out to reach an agreement on the budget that replaces the reckless sequester, avoids another harmful and expensive government shutdown, and gives our economy and the American people the certainty they deserve.
We’ve been saying it all along: it’s imperative that budget conferees work to finalize an agreement to put our nation on a fiscally sustainable path, replace the sequester, and prevent another shutdown – and we’re pleased that GOP appropriators agree. Today, Chairman Hal Rogers and 12 Subcommittee Chairs wrote to conferees and Speaker Boehner, urging them to step up the pace, report out an agreement sooner rather than later, and allow for new appropriations bills to replace the CR.
Asked by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace about whether the Republican government shutdown over Republicans’ obsession with repealing the Affordable Care Act was “worth it,” Sen. Ted Cruz had a surprising response, according to The Hill:
“Absolutely.”
The Office of Management & Budget just released a new report with the impacts and economic costs of the GOP government shutdown and according to the report, the 16 day Republican shutdown cost us big. Here are couple of the “low-lights” from the Report:
Disrupted our Economic Growth:
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
On Wednesday, Congress reached a bipartisan agreement to reopen the federal government and ensure that America pays its bills. Federal employees returned to their jobs, our government is open and working for the American people and we have avoided defaulting on our financial obligations for the first time in U.S. history, providing some certainty for our families, business and economy.
“After sixteen days of a government shutdown and weeks of uncertainty as to whether our nation would be able to pay its bills on time, the House has now passed a bill to reopen the government and prevent a catastrophic default.
“The government ought to be open. It ought to be serving the people and America ought to pay its debts. That's what we're getting in this vote.
“Well, I think we're going to do the right thing. We're certainly not doing the perfect thing but we're doing the right thing and it's never the wrong time to do that. I'm glad that we have come to this agreement.