Global Courant
Leaders in the United States Senate have approved an emergency measure aimed at averting a looming government shutdown over budget legislation.
The deal, struck between Republicans and Democrats, would keep the government open for another six weeks. It would also set aside about $6 billion in short-term financing for Ukraine as the country fends off a Russian invasion.
But if the deal passes the full Senate, it will likely face significant hurdles in the House of Representatives, where far-right Republicans have vowed to shoot down the agreement if it reaches the floor.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to anticipate criticism from his party’s hard flank and defended the short-term solution in a speech on Tuesday.
“Delaying action on near-term government funding does not advance policy priorities,” the Republican senator said.
“Shutting down the government due to a domestic government conflict does not strengthen anyone’s political position. It just puts important progress on ice and puts millions of Americans on edge.”
The US government is less than five days away from the deadline to pass budget legislation at midnight on September 30 (04:00 GMT on Sunday).
Should this fail, much of the government will shut down all non-essential functions, leaving government departments in limbo and millions of federal workers without paychecks.
That prospect could also further damage U.S. creditworthiness, forcing the government to pay higher interest rates.
In August, one of the largest credit rating agencies, Fitch Ratings, downgraded the US rating from AAA – the highest – to AA+, citing a “steady deterioration in governance standards”. Analysts at another credit union, Moody’s, warned Monday that they could follow suit if the budget impasse is not resolved.
But Republicans, especially the far right, have been cautious about current levels of government spending and have called for deep cuts in spending such as aid to Ukraine.
“This will certainly lead to a government shutdown,” said Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio said in response to the $6 billion for Ukraine in the emergency plan.
If the emergency measure passes the full Senate in the coming days as expected, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy — the highest-ranking Republican in the House — could choose to bring the legislation to the floor.
But he faces a split party, with some on the far right threatening to remove him from his leadership position if he passes budget legislation with Democrats.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (left) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (center) have agreed on a short-term funding bill, but it remains to be seen whether House Speaker Reps, Kevin McCarthy (right), will support this (File: J Scott Applewhite /AP Photo)
When reporters asked Tuesday whether he felt his speakership was in jeopardy, McCarthy gave a snappy response answer.
“Oh man, that should worry me, huh?” McCarthy said theatrically. “It’s the same thing you asked me before I was elected chairman. I don’t worry about whether there is a speaking slot or not. All I care about is fighting for the American people.”
In January, it took McCarthy five days and a historic 15 rounds of voting to win the speakership, amid fierce opposition from the far right.
But in his comments, McCarthy embraced some of the priorities of far-right members of his party.
He told reporters he believed aid to Ukraine and emergency funding for the government should be “two separate things.” The Republican speaker also called on Democrats to instead invest in increased security along the U.S. southern border.
“I don’t think the aid to Ukraine should be included in the supplemental program,” McCarthy said.
“I don’t quite understand how when you have all these people across the country talking about the challenges that are happening in America today, people would say, ‘Oh, we have to deal with Ukraine and ignore what’s happening along our border.’ ‘ I think that would be the wrong approach.”
US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy answers questions from reporters as he faces pressure over a possible government shutdown, September 26 (Leah Millis/Reuters)
The Republicans have a very narrow majority of 221 members in the House of Representatives, out of 435 seats. That means McCarthy would either have to pass bipartisan legislation to prevent a government shutdown or rally nearly every member of his party.
In a video statement On Tuesday, Democratic President Joe Biden, a frequent target of conservative complaints about the budget, accused “a small group of extreme Republicans in the House of Representatives” of trying to shut down the government to advance their priorities.
“I am willing to do my part, but the Republicans in the House of Representatives refuse,” he said. “They refuse to stand up to the extremists in their party. So now everyone in America could be forced to pay the price.”
The Senate backtracked Tuesday after a procedural vote to advance the emergency deal, which passed with overwhelming support, with 77 votes in favor of starting work on the bill and only 19 against.
“The only solution to prevent a damaging government shutdown is bipartisanship,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said Tuesday as he counted the dwindling number of days until the possible shutdown. “We are right now at the precipice.”
