White House chief of staff 'can't guarantee' U.S. government will avert December shutdown

[DonViejo]

Congress, White House have until Dec. 11 to reach spending deal in middle of coronavirus pandemic

By Jeff Stein
November 18, 2020 at 2:20 p.m. EST

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Wednesday that he “can’t guarantee” lawmakers will be able to reach a deal to avert a mid-December shutdown of the federal government.

Congress and the White House have until Dec. 11 to approve new spending legislation to prevent the federal government from shutting down in the middle of a pandemic and amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Meadows said he was hopeful an agreement would be reached but did not rule out that an impasse. There has already been two government shutdowns during President Trump’s four years in office, one lasting more than a month.

Lawmakers this week began negotiations on spending legislation that would fund the government and avert the shutdown, but key sticking points remain over international aid policy, public health spending and tribal health care, among other policy disagreements, according to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

If appropriators cannot reach agreement on legislation to fund federal agencies, Congress could approve a “continuing resolution” that would lock in existing spending levels with no change to existing policy. White House officials say they want to fund the government, but Trump’s erratic policy demands and negotiating style have for years upended negotiations with Congress, culminating in the longest-ever government shutdown in 2018 over his demands for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/11/18/white-house-congress-shutdown-december/

[Turbineguy]

1. A Government shutdown

would be perfect for trump.

[beachbumbob]

2. I totally expect the shutdown to happen, why would trump care?

so merry fucking christmas America

[jimfields33]

3. Seems repugs want to lose those two seats in Georgia

[drray23]

4. i expect Trump wont sign it

and so does the rest if the senior staff at my place of work. We planned for it and set aside enough money to keep paying everybody well into 2021.

[Rebl2]

5. Like someone

else said in another post. GOP is trying to set as many fires as they can to make it difficult for Biden and his team. What is wrong with these people. putin has gotten to the majority of republicans I believe. If they want to live like that, please move to russia.

[birdographer]

6. It's possible I just don't get it...

Shut down a government that is doing nothing to remedy the virus crisis. Shut down a government that is causing daily unrest and riling up trump's cult. Shut down a government that is rife with positive COVID tests and still not masking up, continuing to spread it. The government of America is anti-America. If your toaster is smoking and about to set the house on fire, you unplug it. As for national security if there is a shutdown...what national security? Our current government is wholly incapable of fending off any security threat. Donald will run to the bunker, the republicans will hide under their desks.

[Jersey Devil]

7. Trump will blow it up to continue to salt the earth

I think he will go so far as to unscrew all the light bulbs in the White House so that Biden will have to move in every direction simultaneously to stop the utter chaos caused by Trump

[DallasNE]

8. If Government Shuts Down In December

That should backfire on Republicans in the Georgia Senate races so why are they playing this game? Their hand is weak.

[James48]

9. I just retired from the federal government.

A lot of workers now expect Trump to refuse to do anything, hold his breath and turn blue.

The good news is they are conserving funds so that they can make it through for a month if it gets bad again. They also know relief will come when Biden is sworn in.

[allnews]

10. Does this affect social security payments?

Disability payments?