The federal government will officially shut down after Congress failed to reach an agreement on a short-term resolution to fund the government by midnight Monday, when the current funding resolution expired.
After the U.S. Senate rejected a bill which would have prevented the federal government from partially shutting down, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) denied a request from House Republicans to appoint conferees in order to reconcile the differences between the two chambers.
“We will not go to conference with a gun to our head,” Reid said on the Senate floor before declaring the Senate will be in recess until 9:30 AM EDT on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday evening, after the House passed a short-term resolution to fund the government with amendments attached that would delay Obamacare’s individual mandate for a year and prevent those in Congress and the Executive Branch–and their staffs–from receiving Obamacare subsidies, the Senate rejected it by a 54-46 party-line vote, sending a clean resolution back to the House hours before a partial government shutdown is set to take place.
If Congress does not agree to a resolution to fund the government by midnight, parts of the federal government will shut down on Tuesday.
The House passed its continuing resolution by a 228-201 vote. Twelve Republicans did not vote for it while nine Democrats did.
According to The Hill, Republicans voting against the House’s resolution were:
Reps. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), Joe Barton (Texas), Paul Broun (Ga.), Mario Diaz Balart (Fla.), Charlie Dent (Pa.), Phil Gingrey (Ga.), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Kay Granger (Texas), Peter King (N.Y.), Steve King (Iowa.), Tom Massie (Ky.) and Mike Rogers (Ala.)
Republicans met around 11 PM EDT to figure out the next steps.
“The Senate is going to have to explain how they defend special treatment for members of Congress, special treatment for big business and special interests,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) said after the vote. “This what’s at stake here. This is about no special treatment under the law. This is what Harry Reid is going to have to answer to. So we look forward to what the Senate is going to go.”
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said President Barack Obama told him on Monday night, “I’m not going to negotiate. I’m not going to negotiate, I’m not going to do this.”
“This is an issue of fairness,” Boehner reportedly said on the floor. “How can we give waivers and breaks to all the big union guys out there, how do we give a break to all the big businesses out there, and yet stick our constituents with a bill that they don’t want and a bill they can’t afford?”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.