Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) says the Republican-led House intends to avoid a government shutdown this fall by passing a “clean” funding bill and approving a short-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.
“We will pass a clean [continuing resolution], and if for some reason the Democrats don’t take that, then they will clearly have shut the government down,” the House budget chief told Roll Call, saying the stopgap bill will probably last through Dec. 11.
Ryan also said to expect the House to pass a short-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, even though lots of conservatives want to shut it down. Ryan himself has slammed Ex-Im as “crony capitalism.”
If the House passes these two measures — and that’s hardly a given — it would all but take a government shutdown off the table through the midterm elections. Senate Democrats would have little justification for not adopting them in order to keep the government running. Despite some hunger for confrontation with President Barack Obama, Republican leaders are wary that a shutdown on Oct. 1 — so close to Election Day — could harm their prospects.
When Congress returns to Washington in September it will have just 10 working days before the fiscal year ends and federal funding expires.
I’m thinking ‘clean’ has different meaning to some people. I’m also thinking the lunatic caucus might want to have some input into this. Regardless I think it’s going to be an interesting fall…
Has he consulted Speaker Alberta Rafael?
In other words, pay the ransom or we’ll shoot the baby.
It’s that simple.
What Paul giveth, Mitch taketh away…
Just redefine the word “clean” to be “what I want”.
Problem solved!