Capitol Crunch Time: Shutdown Skirted

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This image from U.S. Senate video shows the vote total, 88-9, on a temporary funding bill in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The threat of a federal government shutdown ended late Saturday, hours before a midnight deadline, as Congress approved a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open and sent the measure to President Joe Biden to sign. (Senate Television via AP)
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In a move that surprised many due to its bipartisan nature, the House passed a 45-day funding bill, pulling us back from the brink of a government shutdown. A commanding 335 representatives from both sides of the aisle united to approve the bill. Now, all that remains is for President Biden to give his signature, ensuring the government continues to operate.

Navigating the bill wasn’t without challenges. Speaker Kevin McCarthy took a decisive step by proposing a clean short-term funding bill. Though it included provisions for disaster aid, it intentionally sidestepped the contentious issue of aid to Ukraine.

Given the bill’s rapid introduction, some representatives, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, found themselves under pressure to review its 71 pages in a very short timeframe. However, by the time of the vote, Jeffries, along with the majority of his Democratic colleagues, signaled their support.

Yet, there’s more to this than just the funding narrative. McCarthy’s strategy has certainly ruffled feathers within the political arena. As scrutiny now intensifies around Representative Matt Gaetz, a notable critic of McCarthy, many are speculating about the broader implications for the GOP’s unity and the trajectory of McCarthy’s political career.


Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

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