Optimism on Averting Government Shutdown High in US House and Senate

Republican and Democratic Senators are hopeful and optimistic that the talks and negotiations relating to the bill on government funding will not get stale and lead to a government shutdown. The Speaker of the House, John Boehner will hold a vote in the coming weekend. Lawmakers need to sign the bill and then pass it through Congress. The government will run out money on March 27 and the President of the United States is keen on pushing the Republicans for the funding bill that will see the government through this year, 2013.

Temporary measure

The GOP (the Republic Party) has control over the House. For the budget discussions, the Democrats and Republicans both agree on imposing the provisions specified in the Budget Control Act of 2011 in establishing the $1.043 trillion budget cap. As discussions rage on and negotiations go back and forth between Republicans and Democrats, a continuing resolution (CR) is being put forward as a temporary measure to resolve the funding issue.

According to Senator Mitch McConnel (Republican Party) they are looking at the continuing resolution as the most probable solution. He predicts that the move will not have any trouble being passed in both the House and the Senate. The Majority Floor Leader of the Senate Harry Reid (Democratic Party) is “cautiously optimistic” that before the Easter recess a deal will be made, saving the government from a shutdown. The Democrats are saying that this move is uncharacteristic of the Republicans, and the best one to be made in order to avert a crisis.

No interest in a confrontation

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell confirmed that both parties are not interested in any kind of scenario that would cause any kind of shutdown. The bill on the trillion dollar government funding needs to be passed. Lawmakers and negotiators who are currently working on the continuing resolution would have to dampen the automatic spending cuts such that they do not cause grave economic and political consequences.

The Republican Vote

The House Bill prepared by the Republicans provides certain flexibilities to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Pentagon. The Democrats are commenting that other agencies need to be given a similar leeway, too. For example, the critical programs of the education department must be allowed to continue, and this is only possible if the sting on some spending cuts be taken away. A similar issue is being put forth in the science and technology department.

It is rather encouraging to note that there is an existing open line of communications between the Democratic and Republican Parties and that the dominant GOP is giving way to include the priorities of the Democrats. The focus now is on formulating a “hybrid” bill that would perfectly fit the current need of the United States government and economy. The continuing resolution still needs to be passed in the next few days and the road could still prove to be bumpy, but both sides are hoping for a smooth negotiation and the eventual passing of the bill.