The fiscal year ends for the Federal Government a week from today, so it’s game time for lawmakers and the President who have not agreed on spending after September 30. The House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR), a law that funds the government generally for less than a full year, but their legislation contained an amendment that would defund Obamacare. The CR now goes to the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he would remove the defunding amendment. Conservative Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has argued that Republicans should vote against cloture, a procedure that cuts off debate, if Reid goes forward with his intention to remove the anti-Obamacare amendment.
Roll Call: Showdown Week in Congress
Roll Call: Filibuster the House CR? Cruz, Other Conservatives Say ‘Yes’
Hammering out budget deals has been notoriously difficult over the past few years, and there are many reasons for it. One reason is the breakdown of bipartisan friendships and other cordial connections, which used to be more common in Washington.
The Hill: Strained Relationships Increase Likelihood of Fiscal Calamity
And if elected officials cannot be friends with each other or even work together, then it is no surprise that they are going to use budgetary failures to trash on their opponents.
Washington Times: Blame Game Heats Up as Start of Shutdown Looms
And after this week’s spending debates, they get to do it all over again a couple weeks from now, if they don’t work out something for the debt limit increase.