Tags
$6.9 billion, agricultural disaster assistance, Army Corps of Engineers, collision course, CR, Eric Cantor, federal disastor relief, FEMA, government shutdown near, Harry Reid, Senator Mitch McConnell
[FoxNews.com]
by Trish Turner | September 20, 2011
It’s a little early to be talking about a government shutdown possibility, but at the moment, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Republican leaders in the House appear to be on a collision course over how to fund disaster relief, one that could shutter the federal government in the next two weeks if a compromise is not found. And none appears to be in the works.
The current stopgap funding bill, called a Continuing Resolution (CR), expires at midnight on September 30, but lawmakers are scheduled to be out next week in observance of Rosh Hashanah, thereby speeding up the legislative clock. Congressional leaders know they have to use the CR, considered a must-pass bill, as a vehicle for disaster relief, as it is the least likely to be blocked.
Even more pressing, FEMA says it will run out of money by September 26, if Congress does not at least approve a chunk of emergency funds as soon as possible.
You must be logged in to post a comment.