On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a temporary funding bill by a decisive majority, extending government funding through December 11. This move successfully avoided a government shutdown crisis ahead of the November midterm elections, and the bill has now been sent to President Trump for his signature.
The legislation received broad bipartisan support. Lawmakers were able to reach consensus quickly primarily to "maintain stability" before the election. As the race for congressional control enters its final sprint, neither party wants to anger voters by triggering a government shutdown, so both are eager to set aside this threat temporarily in order to focus on campaigning.
Notably, this Congress had previously faced intense divisions over budget issues, even setting the record for the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Yet this vote proceeded unusually smoothly, with lawmakers eager to leave Washington and return to their home districts. The bill essentially adopts the version passed by the Senate before its August recess, differing from the initial House proposal. For example, it does not include additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—funding for which was already secured. Additionally, the bill temporarily halts a federal agency rule to prevent federal funding allocations from becoming overly politicized.
This passage of the bill represents a typical "election-year compromise." While it successfully resolves the immediate shutdown threat and allows the government to operate smoothly until year-end, it fails to address any substantive fiscal disagreements. The real budget showdown is merely postponed until December, when Congress will face even more challenging fiscal decisions.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1875208712792199/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.