Crunch Time for Congress
The threat of another crippling government shutdown loomed large as a small bipartisan group of congressional leaders worked toward a budget deal that the Senate is expected to vote on this week.
“Government has to function, and we saw the specter of two govenment shutdowns in 2014… I don’t think that’s good for anybody,” Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis) said on Meet The Press on Sunday, alongside Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), his democratic counterpart in leading the budget talks.
Though the two were able to reach a deal passed by the House, the 113th session of Congress - one of the most bruising and dysfunctional in years - still has a week of battles ahead.
The House has finished its business for the year, leaving things in the hands of the Senate for the final week of legislative business.
The Senate is tasked with confirming several presidential nominees, including new heads of the Federal Reserve and the Department of Homeland Security. It is also expected to vote on both the budget and a compromise defense bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has filed to hold a cloture vote on the budget bill Tuesday.
President Obama has seen nine of his nominees confirmed since Wednesday. No longer able to block nominees with filibusters, Republicans are instead resorting to slowing down the process. Reid said Thursday that those tactics were “wasting all this time” that should be spent on “substantive issues” like funding the government and the military.
More: Crunch Time for Congress