09/20/2018

Senate Passes Short-term Spending Bill

The bill is part of a much larger appropriations package

On Sept. 18, the Senate passed a short-term spending bill that would keep the government running through Dec. 7, postponing any threat of a government shutdown until after the midterm elections. The short-term spending bill is attached to an appropriations package containing 2019 funding for the Pentagon as well as for the Labor, Education and Health and Human Services departments.

“This is the most significant step we have taken yet,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL). “For the first time in a decade, we are sending a Defense spending bill to the president’s desk on time. Returning to regular order has required us all to sacrifice and work together for the good of the process.”

GOP leaders are hoping to skirt controversy ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline when government funding will expire unless Congress intervenes, but President [Donald] Trump has publicly mused on shutting down the government if he does not get funding for his border wall. The short-term bill would not increase funding for Homeland Security, which is responsible for construction of the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Earlier today, Trump doubled down on his shutdown threat and urged Republicans to “get tough” on spending priorities.

“I want to know, where is the money for border security and the WALL in this ridiculous spending bill, and where will it come from after the midterms?,” Trump tweeted.

This article was provided to OSAE by the Power of A and ASAE's Inroads.