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Congress has averted a government shutdown for this week, at least. On Thursday night, the Senate followed the House in passing a one-week continuing resolution to keep the government funded at its current level while negotiators work out an omnibus bill to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. (And at the beginning of the next fiscal year, in October 2023, Congress will pass a continuing resolution that kicks the can down the road a couple months until we are once again looking at the threat of a holiday government shutdown.)
A group of Republicans offered amendments to the continuing resolution, both of which were rejected. Sen. Mike Lee wanted to extend the stopgap’s length from a week to months, to push the omnibus bill into when Republicans will have control of the House, and Sen. Rick Scott wanted to eliminate additional IRS funding passed by Democrats earlier in the year.
The omnibus bill is being negotiated by Sens. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, and Richard Shelby, a Republican, along with Democratic Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro—House Republicans are conspicuously absent from the dealmaking—who are keeping the details quiet but are reportedly making some progress toward an agreement days after they announced having a “framework” for a bill. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did concede that there was “a lot of work to do,” but DeLauro expressed confidence. “We're going to get an omnibus next week,” she said. “I'm resolute. I can't account for crazy things that come up, but that's my goal.”
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