WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress seems set to prevent a weekend government shutdown, but lawmakers and President Donald Trump still have longer-range disputes to settle over spending, immigration and other issues before they can declare budget peace.
With many on both sides deciding a headline-grabbing federal closure would be a political blunder — at least for now — the House planned to approve legislation Thursday financing federal agencies through Dec. 22. The Senate seemed ready to follow. Without legislation, many agencies would run out of money after midnight Friday and grind to a close.
The two-week spending measure is aimed at giving both parties’ bargainers more time to reach longer-term budget decisions. To jumpstart that negotiating, Trump and congressional leaders were meeting Thursday to try reaching agreements.
The prospects for successful White House talks were buffeted Wednesday when the impulsive Trump blurted to reporters that a shutdown “could happen.” He blamed Democrats, saying they want “illegal immigrants pouring into our country, bringing with them crime, tremendous amounts of crime.”
Last week, an unexpected attack by Trump on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., prompted the two Democrats to skip a bargaining session that was planned then.
This time, the White House smoothed the waters by following up with a more peaceable, written statement. It praised Pelosi and Schumer for choosing to “put their responsibility to the American people above partisanship” and said Trump was anticipating productive talks between “leaders who put their differences aside.”
Later, the White House issued another statement indicating Trump would sign the two-week spending extension. It also laid out administration budget goals, saying money for the military including missile defense and security along the border with Mexico “must be prioritized in a long-term funding agreement.”
For Republicans, a shutdown would put a humiliating bookend on a year in which they’ve controlled the White House and Congress with little to show for it. They want the public to focus instead on the GOP’s prized $1.5 trillion tax bill, which party leaders hope to send Trump by Christmas.
The two-week spending bill also makes money available to several states that are running out of funds for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. That widely popular program provides medical care to more than 8 million children.
Even the head of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, whose members have been threatening to oppose the temporary spending measure, predicted passage.
“No one wants a shutdown, including Freedom Caucus members,” Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., told reporters.
The roughly 30-member caucus has been trying to win promises from leaders of spending curbs and quick passage of a full-year defense budget in exchange for backing the short-term bill. Without support from many of them, Republicans would need votes from Democrats to push the temporary spending measure through the House.
While many Democrats seemed likely to oppose the short-term bill, enough were expected to support it in the Senate to allow its passage there. They know they’d still have leverage on subsequent bills needed to keep the government running.
Republicans control the Senate 52-48 and will need at least eight Democratic votes for passage.
Democrats have been using their leverage to insist on spending boosts for health care, infrastructure and other domestic programs that would match increases Republicans want for defense.
Democrats are also seeking an agreement to extend protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children. Trump ended safeguards against deportation three months ago but has expressed an openness to restoring them.
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AP reporters Andrew Taylor and Ken Thomas contributed.
Let me guess, by creating yet another tax break for the uber-wealthy? Further trampling on basic human rights? Honoring pedophiles?
Two weeks. We promise that in two weeks we can reach an agreement that’s great for everybody. I know we’ve had all fall to get it done. But, we’ve never had to do this before- other than every year. So, really, just two more weeks.
So they’re trading the risk of a shutdown two weeks before christmas for the risk of a shutdown three days before christmas? Sounds to me as if the Nutbar Caucus is planning to finally roll over.
Again…the plan is in those two weeks to do absolutely nothing, but ask for another extension for 4 more weeks.
I am not joking. This is the plan Ryan rolled out. Get a CR till the holidays, then ask for another to extend until January.
I don’t understand why the Dems are going along with this. Right NOW is the time to push for a DACA legislation and CHIPs funding. Hell, I would toss in the CSR fix that is already on the table, too. Making the case to provide security and health insurance to children at Christmas time? Hell, even Scrooge could make that case.
Sounds like Republicans finally figured out they’re the ones who’ll get the blame for it.
I’m surprised - I really didn’t think they had that much self-awareness.
In a way, it’s kind of a shame. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to put the federal labor force out of work right before Christmas. But letting the GOP shut down the gov’t might have been a good way to delay passage of the tax bill until next year. And, as daveyjones64 notes above, a good way to finally get CHIP reauthorized.