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With the sequestration deadline having come and gone, and the cuts starting to take their toll, attention now shifts to the next big fiscal fight. Funding for the federal government will run out this month, and Congress will need a temporary spending bill -- called a "continuing resolution" -- to keep the lights on through the end of the fiscal year in September.
If lawmakers don't, the government will shut down -- a fate leaders in both parties are eager to avoid.
To that end, the House passed its stopgap bill today, though it's not without its share of political baggage.
The House passed a six-month stopgap spending bill Wednesday that lays out money for defense and veterans programs, with Senate Democrats expected to push to add more appropriations measures to the package next week.
The chamber voted 267-151 for the legislation (HR 933), which would freeze existing appropriations levels for most accounts and set total discretionary spending at $984 billion after across-the-board cuts that began March 1. Fifty-three Democrats voted for the bill, and 14 Republicans voted against it.
The final roll call on the spending measure is online here.
In theory, if the House wanted to undo some or all of the damage done by sequestration cuts, this was a perfect opportunity to do so. Indeed, since many GOP leaders claimed to hate the sequester -- it was, they kept saying, President Obama's awful idea -- they could undo it by restoring the needed funds in the continuing resolution.
But as you might have guessed, that's not what House Republicans had in mind. Their temporary spending bill seeks to ease the sequester pain when it comes to military spending, but under the GOP proposal, everyone else feeling the pinch is pretty much "out of luck."
So, are Americans stuck with this if they want to avoid a government shutdown? Not at all. In fact, today's vote should generally be considered the point at which the process begins in earnest, not ends.
Current funding that keeps the government's lights on doesn't end until March 27 -- three weeks from today -- and between now and then, the Senate will weigh in with a continuing resolution of its own. If you're thinking it's likely to be quite different from the House version approved today, you're correct.
Indeed, the Senate version is probably going to go much further in trying to replace sequestration cuts
In the meantime, President Obama will try a charm offense in the hopes of a larger deal that's more to the White House's liking.
Postscript: Since the GOP leadership managed to corral only 214 Republican votes for the continuing resolution, does that mean the spending bill would have failed without Democratic votes? No. In this case, because so many members were out today, the measure needed 210 votes to pass, instead of the usual 218. The fact that the bill had 53 Democratic supporters has some rhetorical value, but it didn't affect the outcome.
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Interesting. Still no coverage of Sen Paul's talking filibuster. Could it be that the left doesn't want to address the idea of Obama killing American citizens in downtown Nashville is un-Constitutional?
http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN2/
Could it be that few people are taking the Paul family seriously?
I rather imagine it's frustrating for crackpots and internet trolls to be ignored.
B-b-b-benghazi!! LOL
Annie Oakley: There is tons of coverage. And law enforcement can kill American citizens in downtown Nashville, it happens alot as a matter of fact.
Shooter it's worth noting that I went back through Mr. Bennens' blog and after Newtown he published 5-6 articles after the shooting occurred before he finally posted anything about the shooting. THe fact is this is not a "breaking news "blog and never has been. Go to Huffpost and you'll see it plastered all over the front page just like Drudge and Fox and MSNBC.
Nashville? Who give a flying f about Nashville? They could flush the entire state of Kentucky down a toliet and it would not be miss by any of the other states. Why don't you ask Senators Paul and McConnell why they have not lifted a single finger in helping their own state? Keep shooting Shooter, you will hit the mark one of these days!
Shooter, it would be my guess that 1/it's running live on CSPAN2 and 2/he's annoying enough on a 1 minute sound bite why would they give him more free air time?
Rand Paul is a nut job that shouldn't be taken seriously on any matter.
Why does the Right LOOOOOVE hyperbole?? Why is it always the furthest conclusion, the one you need binoculars to view, that they always jump to first?
Steve's next post after this one is about the talking filibuster.
Tell what the difference is in dying from a gunshot an F-14 or a drone? Why did you have no issues with drones when Bush was using them?
They had no issue because Bush is a white man. These people are afraid the black man will seek them out in the dark of the night in their sleep and bomb them out of their trailer parks. (satire)
But shooter is ok with the NRA gunning down 20 school children
Lupe- you do realize that Nashville is in Tennessee, right?
It
There will be coverage, don't worry. The second filibuster of a cabinet member in history proves the faithlessness of the Republicans and the "gang of 14" agreement, and it won't be ignored. I heard about it on NPR just a few minutes ago.
Electing Paul Ryan to government is like appointing a guy who thinks cars should be abolished to run your car company. You can't expect good results.
ditto
Obama's "charm offensive" is proof of insanity, insanity being to try the same thing that has failed before in the expectation of a different outcome. These scumbag Confederate traitors have broken every agreement they have made - every agreement: sequester, debt limit, filibuster, every thing! - and now Dear Idiot Leader thinks it can be different? If he held a gun to his head like the sheriff in "Blazing Saddles" it wouldn't be enough for these people. They are THE ENEMY!
Have I ever commented on how gratifying it is to see this?
Shooter242 Ignoring author
It also helps with mental sanity because I'm not exposed to the mental torture in the world on the other side of the Looking Glass.
I see the same thing after his name. The worst thing to happen to a troll is being ignored. But this is even better because we can't even see his comments.
Shooter is that guy at work the complains about everything under the sun (hint: its always Obama's fault) and everyone avoids at all cost.
I've got a bat-sh1t crazy brother-in-law that's just like that. Up is down, black is white, Obama is the Anti-Christ, and the country is split into Takers and Makers... when he considers himself a Maker, and yet has done nothing but "take" all his miserable, worthless life.
You know the type... Proud Conservative.
I know that type too well Rochester12 as a matter of fact. Also, we could ship you some more of those so-called proud conservative, if you like. We always been looking to get rid of few out of our State. Think of it as doing us a favor here.
That is how THIEVING PIMPED OUT REPOOPS roll...
their aim is to dominate and control the military at the expense of whom they consider EXPENDABLE.
expect the pimped out repoops to continue their war against the entitlement of life.
ps.... in the name of defence, THEY OFFEND. how typical.
joseph common, Have you seen this video? They have already won this war, IMO. How much more can Americans lose to the GOP agenda?
http://ecolocalizer.com/2013/03/03/video-shows-us-wealth-gap-is-now-so-huge-that-it-soars-off-charts/
Scroll down when you get to the page then you'll see the video.
"So, are Americans stuck with this if they want to avoid a government shutdown? Not at all. In fact, today's vote should generally be considered the point at which the process begins in earnest, not ends."
Ahha, and why would we think the eventual outcome won't be exactly the same as the last 5 threats?!??!
It's time to realize, it will come, same as the GOP want it. THE PEOPLE will lose out to Defense, corporate tax rates and the investor class as it has the last 12 years!
WORSE, the extortion method of the pimped out repoops now says... "if you want to live you must join the military and fight the wars we want so we can feed our pimps".
Obama should veto any continuing resolution that only restores defense sequester cuts - either cancel the sequester with this or don't address it at all.
Congress approates funds and approves the govenment money we (the people by our taxes) give them. The President doesn't! I have no ideal why people cannot understand that? All the President can do is make suggestions of how he would like the money (we the people give byway of or taxes) be spent.
But it is so much easier to blame Obama. Midterm elections are coming and then there is the fact Obama is on his last term.
Congress remind you of five year olds and their constant "I didn't do it". One need only to look into each congress persons family connections to see who they reward. As to actual legislation, that is written by aides that are graduates of Liberty or Regents loonaversity.
We have a great form of government but we keep electing the worst people to run it.
Fact is that natural born leaders and true patriots would be insulted if nominated!
Paul, there's a chapter in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that consists of one paragraph. When commenting on Zaphod Beeblebrox's candidacy for President of the Galaxy, the narrator says that anyone who wants the office should automatically be disqualified. To your last point.
I find it outrageous, though not surprising, that House GOPers are happy to throw pork at the military while having no shame in letting the poor and those in need flop in the wind. They are the problem in this country. Let's all make sure we work to get out the democrat and independent vote in 2014 so they don't stay in or more slide in on low voter turn out, shall we?
they are a viral cancer feeding on what is good in america and they need to be excommunicated.
Where are the black helicopters, the blue-helmeted troops, and the FEMA camps when we really need them?
Lori Nalette,#8.
They are the problem. Today when I looked at that video which tells of the incredible inequality between the poor, middle class and rich, it has become abundantly clear to me that it is no accident that so much of the wealth in this country has gone to the top one percent, while the poor and lower middle class fell right off the chart. The upper one percent is way off the chart and the middle class is not much better off than the poor.
We are rapidly losing our middle class. It is astounding. I keep asking myself how this could have happened, a sort of silent coup, which basically negates all hope for the future of the country.
Have we been asking the wrong questions? I know it is the GOP agenda and has been for 30 years, but what is it that they hope to gain from this?
As I see it now, there's nothing Obama can do in this toxic environment to stem this rising tide where all the wealth is concentrated at the top 1% of the country. People like Paul Ryan and the house GOP want still more Draconian spending cuts, with the exception of the military.
Well, I guess more could be taken from the poor and the elderly who make an average of $22,000.00 a year, but since they are already off the wrong end of the chart, aren't they already "under the bus"?
What more do they want and why..... .. WHY? WHY? What are they turning this country into and WHY?
And...worse...is it too late to stop them?
(the video I mentioned is on my FB)
Seems like Boehner has the House working in a bipartisan manner.
no... just the pimped out weapons worshippers who believe that real life is expendable.
Oh wow that is so kind that Republicans offered to keep military spending going for rich bastards as all the other programs that help and employ people still get cut. Don't you think that bill should of been for the other programs too?
Sooooooooooooo let me get this straight. Sequestration cut ALL programs but the Congress can vote on bills to replace cuts to the programs where they oppose cuts, i.e., the military. The republicans gotta love this if this is the way it is. Can the President veto the House "put backs?" We are sooooooooooooo screwed - Where's the KY?????
Funding for the federal government will run out this month,
If we had a regular annual (as in 1 year long) budget this would not keep happening. I am sure the Republicans are more than 50% of the problem, but Congress has got to at the very least do the minimum....like having a budget every year. You would think, with all the fiscal cliff, debt ceiling and sequester events happening every couple of months, they all would try to avoid another "continuing" type of lesiglation that kicks yet another "can" down the road.
I do love the term "continuing resolution". :)
This Congress has no ideal they are responsible for a budget. They think the President is responsible for a budget. This Congress has no ideal what they are responsible for. They have not a clue what they are suppose to do or how to do it. These lazy, idiots don't even know what is going on around them. The Tea Party did this.
Do the Republicans in the House realize that many of our military personnel's families are on food stamps?
The GOP will connive away to keep this fight up till 2014 .That seems to be what there doing weeks at a time or till September,Then they think they can make Americans believe it was Obama's fault that everyone has suffered ,that they were willing to give us there plan they would change at that time thinking we forgot the former one.And some will fall for there trick and think they did the American people a great deed so to get votes for GOP in 2014!
We just need to make weed legal. Every light in the Government could be left on 24 hours a day.