The federal government runs out of funding in two days and Congress still doesn’t have a bill to prevent that from happening.
Congressional leaders are scrambling to extend the Dec. 11 midnight deadline while they hammer out the details of the “CRomnibus” — a combined omnibus to fund most of government through September, and a continuing resolution (or CR) to keep the immigration-enforcing Department of Homeland Security on a short leash through March.
Leaders are mulling a short-term CR of current spending levels to avoid a temporary shutdown on Thursday at midnight, and may extend funding for as little as a few days.
“It now seems inevitable,” a House GOP leadership aide said of a short-term CR.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters on Tuesday that the upper chamber may have to work through the weekend and potentially next week. He said there’s no reason the government should shut down, adding that he’d be happy to vote for a short-term CR to prevent a lapse in funding.
The CRomnibus will likely include legislative riders, including one to prevent D.C. from taxing and regulating marijuana after it passed a ballot initiative to legalize it. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is pushing for a rider to loosen campaign finance laws.
The Republican-led House is hoping to wrap up passage of the CRomnibus by Thursday. If senators consent, the Senate could pass it quickly, although it’s unclear that will happen.
