Government Shutdown Looms if Lawmakers Can't Agree on Spending Bill
- Updated Jan 19, 2018
A government shutdown could be on the way— the first one in more than four years.
House Republicans voted Thursday to keep the government open, but many are worried that the Senate will not be able to agree on a proposed spending plan.
A vote could come today.
"These are hard issues, there's a lot of disagreement. Not just on substance but how to proceed to it. And everybody's trying to gain leverage," said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).
House Republicans voted Thursday on a spending plan that would keep the government open for another four weeks.
The vote was 230-197, with 11 Republicans in opposition to the plan and six Democrats voted in favor of the plan.
In the Senate, the bill needs 60 votes to break a filibuster.
Meanwhile, some Republican senators have said they already intend to vote against it because they believe the short-term funding will harm the military.
"I'm not going to vote for 30 days more of chaos," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Some Democratic senators have also said they plan to vote against the plan because it does not address the issue of the thousands of immigrants would face deportation.
Federal funding runs out at midnight Friday. If no spending plan is approved by then, the federal government will begin to shut down non-essential operations.
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Publication date: January 19, 2018
