government shutdown

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12 Days Left, and Shutdown Looms Large

Impasse over Planned Parenthood funding remains

(Newser) - Twelve days remain in the fiscal year, and the threat of a second government shutdown in three years remains very much in play. The big problem remains a showdown over funding for Planned Parenthood, with conservative Republicans who are upset about recent undercover videos demanding that the group lose all...

Senate Averts Shutdown, Confirms Obama Nominees

Vote on longer-term spending bill due early next week

(Newser) - Their power ebbing, Senate Democrats launched a last-minute drive today to confirm roughly 20 of President Obama's nominees, and several Republicans blamed Tea Party-backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for creating an opening for the outgoing majority party to exploit. Lawmakers took a break from their intrigue long enough to...

$1.1T Spending Bill Squeaks Through House

Obama helps round up Democratic votes

(Newser) - Swapping crisis for compromise, the House narrowly approved $1.1 trillion in government-wide spending last night after President Obama and Republicans joined forces to override Democratic complaints that the bill would also ease bank regulations imposed after the economy's near-collapse in 2008. The 219-206 vote cleared the way for...

Lawmakers Strike Budget Deal to Avoid Shutdown

Congress has to get it passed before midnight Thursday

(Newser) - With time running short, Republicans and Democrats agreed today on a $1.1 trillion spending bill to avoid a government shutdown and delay a fight over President Obama's new immigration policy until the new year. The government will run out of money at midnight Thursday without a new deal...

Boehner's Message to House: No Shutdown

Speaker plans to head one off before Dec. 11 deadline

(Newser) - Congress is back to work today after the holiday with a major deadline looming: It needs to pass a new funding bill by Dec. 11 or the government runs out of money. Given that Republicans are seething over President Obama's executive action on immigration , some think a government shutdown...

9 Months After Shutdown, DC Hit With Baby Boom

Timing probably just a coincidence, right?

(Newser) - As the nation's capital languished during October's 16-day government shutdown, a nurse in Washington, DC, made a Facebook prediction: “Furlough babies????" Lo and behold nine months later, reps at Sibley Memorial Hospital, where the nurse works, say there’s been a nearly 33% increase in births over...

No Shutdown: Congress Rolls Out $1.1T Spending Bill

Bipartisan measure expected to pass easily

(Newser) - After weeks of late nights, House and Senate negotiators believe they have hammered out a bipartisan spending bill that will ensure a year free from government shutdown drama. "There will be no shutdown," says Senate Appropriations Committee chair Barbara Mikulski. "This is a strong bipartisan bill, and...

Congress on Verge of Drama-Free Budget

Low-ambition deal might make flying more expensive

(Newser) - Paul Ryan and Patty Murray do not want another government shutdown. That much is clear based on the quick budget deal that the two are reportedly finishing up—one so modest that the Washington Post characterizes it as a "cease-fire." The bill doesn't reduce the debt, close...

State Dept. Stocked Up on Booze Before Shutdown
State Dept. Stocked Up on Booze Before Shutdown
$180K worth
Dec 4, 2013 1:12 PM CST

State Dept. Stocked Up on Booze Before Shutdown

And very expensive art, too

(Newser) - The State Department certainly had its priorities straight in the weeks leading up to the government shutdown: In September, the last month of the fiscal year, it spent $180,000 ... on booze. That includes $11,550 on "gratuity whiskey" and "gratuity wine" at the embassy in Rio, $22,...

GOP Looks Ready to Sabotage Itself Again
GOP Looks Ready to Sabotage Itself Again
OPINION
Dec 3, 2013 12:55 PM CST

GOP Looks Ready to Sabotage Itself Again

'Wall Street Journal' editors say budget standoff could negate ObamaCare gains

(Newser) - The conservative editorial page of the Wall Street Journal sounds pretty hopeful that the troubles of ObamaCare will translate into solid GOP gains in next year's midterms. But the editors also see signs that Republicans are going to once again blow it with a "stupid, futile budget standoff....

Obama Is a Lousy Apologizer
 Obama Is a 
 Lousy Apologizer 
OPINION
Nov 8, 2013 9:52 AM CST

Obama Is a Lousy Apologizer

Lynn Sweet: He seems to lack genuine empathy

(Newser) - President Obama offered an "I'm sorry" last night to the people whose insurance polices got canceled despite his earlier assurances to the contrary. At the Chicago Sun-Times , Lynn Sweet is unmoved. What stands out from the interview "is the president’s inability to sincerely express empathy,"...

Shutdown Fallout: Delayed Tax Refunds

IRS to start processing returns later

(Newser) - Internal Revenue Service workers are back from furlough with news that might annoy on-the-ball taxpayers: The agency says the government shutdown will delay the date when it begins processing tax returns by as much as two weeks, meaning refunds won't arrive as promptly as usual for millions of early...

Irate Voters Ready to Throw the Bums Out

Just 4% say we'd be worse off if every Congressman was replaced

(Newser) - The American people want to see some heads roll in Congress, with new polls out today showing that the shutdown has drastically soured voters on just about everyone. Just 4% of respondents said the country would be worse off if every single congressman were replaced in the 2014 elections, while...

Believe It or Not, the GOP Is Winning
 Believe It or Not, 
 the GOP Is Winning 
OPINION
Oct 21, 2013 1:47 PM CDT

Believe It or Not, the GOP Is Winning

The whole policy discussion is still being held on their terms

(Newser) - Republicans may look like they're cleaning egg off their face right now. "House Republicans have suffered a huge tactical defeat of their own devising," writes George Packer at the New Yorker . "But in a larger sense, the Republicans are winning, and have been for the past...

Lew on Debt Ceiling Showdown: Never Again
 Lew on Debt Ceiling Showdown: Never Again 
SUNDAY TALK SHOWS
Oct 20, 2013 9:11 AM CDT

Lew on Debt Ceiling Showdown: Never Again

'Cannot take a risk with the full faith and credit'

(Newser) - For lawmakers who might be getting used to last-minute debt ceiling showdowns, the country's Treasury secretary has a message: Not so fast, sunshine. "The message that we have to send going forward is that there was a turning point on Wednesday night and this won't happen again,...

Boehner to Obama: 'I Got Overrun'

A behind-the-scenes look at how and why the shutdown happened

(Newser) - During a White House meeting on Oct. 2, a day into the shutdown, John Boehner slipped out for a smoke. Barack Obama followed him, demanding a private explanation for the shutdown. "John, what happened?" he asked. "I got overrun, that's what happened," Boehner replied. That anecdote...

Washington's Plan: Avoid Repeat—by Aiming Low

Shutdown over, new budget talks begin

(Newser) - Next up in DC: House and Senate Budget Committee leaders have until Dec. 13 to agree upon a budget plan and ensure the whole mess doesn't happen again. Both sides say they're intent on avoiding another shutdown, and the New York Times reports on how they'll do...

Federal Workers Getting Back Pay Next Week

Most will start seeing it in Oct. 25 paychecks

(Newser) - Most furloughed federal workers, who went 16 days without pay, will start getting back pay a week from tomorrow. When exactly the back pay starts showing up depends on the payroll provider used by each agency, but most workers will start seeing it Oct. 25, CNN reports. More good news:...

House Stenographer Explains Meltdown

Dianne Foster Reidy says Holy Spirit made her do it

(Newser) - Blame the Holy Spirit: The House stenographer who was dragged out of the chamber last night after an outburst about God and the Freemasons has explained what happened—kind of. Politico reports that Dianne Foster Reidy told Fox News , "For the past two and a half weeks, the Holy...

Federal Employees Go Back to Work ... on a Huge 'Mess'

Assuming they got the news at all

(Newser) - Federal employees are officially back on the job this morning—assuming they got the news. The bill reopening the government was signed late last night , and agencies couldn't exactly email their employees to let them know, because it was actually illegal for workers to check their email during the...

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