White House prepares for shutdown as GOP lawmakers struggle for an alternative
Source: Washington Post
The White House and a number of federal agencies have started advanced preparations for a partial government shutdown, as President Trump and congressional Democrats appear unlikely to resolve their fight over a border wall before some government funding lapses at week’s end.
GOP leaders are scrambling to find a short-term alternative that could stave off a shutdown, which would start on Dec. 22 absent a deal. But White House officials signaled to lawmakers Friday that they would probably not support a one- or two-week stopgap measure. Some congressional Republicans support such a “continuing resolution,” but the White House rejection has dramatically increased the odds of a spending lapse.
“We could be headed down the road to nowhere,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.). “We’ll have a [continuing resolution] rather than a shutdown, I hope.”
Several budget experts believe a partial shutdown, which would impact agencies that manage law enforcement, homeland security, housing and other programs, could drag on for days, if not weeks. That is in part because Trump believes the final days of the existing Congress are his best chance to extract $5 billion in funds to partially build a wall along the Mexico border. In early January, Democrats take control of the House of Representatives, giving them more control over the process.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/business/economy/white-house-prepares-for-shutdown-as-gop-lawmakers-struggle-for-an-alternative/2018/12/15/6c31cae6-ffc1-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html
I hope White House budget director Mick Mulvaney doesn’t get too distracted by his new subtitle
= new reply since forum marked as read
Glad to have you with us
