Government shutdown midnight Saturday

[James48843]

Looks like we might get a government shutdown midnight Saturday.

http://wallstreetpit.com/53564-government-shutdown-in-december-now-looking-like-a-real-option-for-gop

and

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/republicans-make-good-on-threat-to-force-lame-duck-spending-showdown.php?ref=fpblg

are saying it is more likely now.

Could be interesting.


At least it could be an extension of the time off around Christmas... :-)

[James48843]

News flash-

Senator Harry Reid just pulled back the Omnibus funding bill, after more Senators threatened to make them read it all. Some republicans are railing about earmarks- yet it turns out that republicans put in the most earmarks. How about that?


"If they want to shut down the government,'' said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., "that's their problem."

So the likelihood of a government shutdown on Saturday just got a HUGE boost.

Stay tuned.

[Birchtree]

Lame duck Donkeys wasting money and showing complete disregard for the voters - it's like they didn't learn anything in November. Take their names in the Senate for 2012. It would be a simple process to have a clean tax bill - the tea party members won't forget.

[James48843]

Lame duck Donkeys wasting money and showing complete disregard for the voters - it's like they didn't learn anything in November. Take their names in the Senate for 2012. It would be a simple process to have a clean tax bill - the tea party members won't forget.

Not sure what you are referring to. This thread isn't about the tax bill. This thread is about the spending bill.

With no approved continuing resolution or Omnibus appropriations bill, the government will be forced to shut down as of midnight Saturday night.

The bill which was sent to the floor was a bipartisan bill put together by Senators from both parties over many months.



After long deliberations with Republican principals Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on the Senate floor that nine GOP members had reneged on their pledges to vote for the omnibus spending bill, which reflected months of bipartisan negotiations, and included earmarks benefiting both parties.
That left Reid several votes shy of the 60 he'd need to overcome a filibuster and essentially vaporized a year's worth of work by the Appropriations Committee.




Republican Jim deMint sunk it today.

So it's a government shutdown dead ahead.

Details: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/after-spending-bill-implodes-reid-schedules-vote-on-dadt-repeal.php?ref=fpblg

[Show-me]

Some republicans are railing about earmarks- yet it turns out that republicans put in the most earmarks. How about that?

Maybe the some that did not are putting pressure on the some that did and trying to get their fellow Senators to straighten up.

I hear Nevada was slated for a few million in pork for Salmon something or another. Wouldn't that be Harry, I'm on thin ice, Reid's State? lol I guess he's okay for another 5 years at least.




PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY
For necessary expenses associated with the restoration of Pacific salmon populations, $80,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2012: Provided, That of the funds provided herein the Secretary of Commerce may issue grants to the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, California, and Alaska, and Federally-recognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast (including Alaska) for projects necessary for conservation of salmon and steelhead populations that are listed as threatened or endangered, or identified by a State as at risk to be so-listed, for maintaining populations necessary for exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing, or for conservation of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead habitat, based on guidelines to be developed by the Secretary of Commerce….
Hmm…Last time we checked, Nevada was landlocked and didn’t remotely touch the Pacific Ocean or any of the tributaries of the Columbia River (which run extensively through Idaho.)
Now, how would Nevada get to be eligible for grants to protect the Pacific Salmon. Do the fish have a gambling addiction?


http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/12/14/congressional-magic-nevada-now-on-the-pacific-ocean/

[alevin]

Well, I would have to say there is an error somewhere in that article. I worked in Nevada for years, and yes there are Nevada tribes deeply invested and engaged in cooperative efforts to restore TROUT populations in Nevada, but no. There are NO salmon or steelhead in Nevada. Those fish are related to trout, but are oceangoing and there are no Nevada waterways that go to the ocean anywhere in the state.

Edit: there did used to be salmon and steelhead in northern Nevada however, because some of the tributaries to the Snake River actually flow downhill from Nevada into Idaho. But that was long ago, before all the dam building on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, down below where those Nevada tributaries come into the Snake.

[Show-me]

4 PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY


5 For necessary expenses associated with the restora6


tion of Pacific salmon populations, $80,000,000, to re7


main available until September 30, 2012: Provided, That


8 of the funds provided herein the Secretary of Commerce


9 may issue grants to the States of Washington, Oregon,


10 Idaho, Nevada, California, and Alaska, and Federally-rec11


ognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast


12 (including Alaska) for projects necessary for conservation


13 of salmon and steelhead populations that are listed as


14 threatened or endangered, or identified by a State as at15


risk to be so-listed, for maintaining populations necessary


16 for exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsist17


ence fishing, or for conservation of Pacific coastal salmon


18 and steelhead habitat, based on guidelines to be developed


19 by the Secretary of Commerce: Provided further, That all


20 funds shall be allocated based on scientific and other merit


21 principles and shall not be available for marketing activi22


ties: Provided further, That funds disbursed to States shall


23 be subject to a matching requirement of funds or docu24


mented in-kind contributions of at least 33 percent of the

25 Federal funds.



http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=9ac3518e-7e19-4328-bf52-16a6c2a1d333

[Show-me]

OMG, I just scrolled through the entire bill...........................amazing the bullshitz the taxpayer are letting happen.

Complacency is dooming America.

[nnuut]

This will fund government until Republicans can fix it in January! This has happened before Ya know.:laugh:
Reid Pulls Controversial $1.2 Trillion Spending Bill in Favor of Short-Term Budget Fix


Published December 16, 2010
| FoxNews.com
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, bowing to Republican opposition to a 1,924-page $1.2 trillion spending measure packed with earmarks, withdrew the bill and said he would work with Republicans (http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/#)on a smaller, short-term budget fix to avoid a looming government shutdown.
EXCERPT:


Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/politics/mitch-mcconnell.htm#r_src=ramp) has offered a one-page stopgap bill that would fund the government for just the next two months. Reid (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/politics/harry-reid.htm#r_src=ramp) said he would with McConnell to finalize such a measure.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/16/senate-scrambles-avoid-government-shutdown-gop-forces-read-thon/

[James48843]

You want to see the list of earmarks?

Here you go.

http://appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=92ae0f71-df60-4e7f-b0d8-3d8afcfb19f0

and

http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=83b110a4-48c8-45f9-8f87-90cd58e18688

and

http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=55cb6704-79ee-4d13-8327-e030dd74ec16

just for a few. That's about a total of 170 pages of earmarks. Not all of them.

[Warrenlm]

When will someone be able to explain to the electorate the difference between "good" earmarks and "bad" earmarks? "Good" ensure the Executive expends lump sum appropriations on projects that Congress wants executed after having reviewed all justification project lists within the lump sum and "bad" are projects requested by Members as additions that drive up the lump sum amount. Would that work? OK, probably not cuz "bad" might displace other projects. Sigh, they're just the COC Currency of Congress.

[FAB1]

?? Republicians put in most earmarks...

Figure it out...if the Omnibus gets killed no one gets earmarks. They are purposely loading it down to kill it. Great tactic on their part.

Tough luck Dingy Harry. I say read it all. READ ALL OF THEM.

Oh yeah and Fire the FED RESV

[Warrenlm]

Most feds, especially in headquarters, have been participants in hanging ornaments on "christmas trees"....bills that are guaranteed to pass, don't have a fixed top line, and attract addons. The Republicans are trying to starve the beast, I think. Hold down revenue and try to force the gov to live within it. There's no chance that revenue will grow to make up the deficit in our lifetimes. Except those retiring in 2075 that is. Anyone want to sell a few years?

[James48843]

"It is not fair for the Republicans to act like all those pages came from the Democratic side of the aisle," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who is an opponent of earmarks.

She questioned their sincerity on the issue and rhetorically asked why none of the Republican senators with earmarks in the bill sought to have them taken out of the package.

McConnell secured 42 earmarks worth $86.1 million in the package, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense. Thune secured 28 earmarks worth $38.5 million in the bill, while Cornyn secured 51 earmarks worth $93.5 million, the group estimated. Their requests came before Senate Republicans agreed last month not to request any earmarks for the next two years.

Source: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=46737&oref=todaysnews

[tsptalk]

No wonder congress's approval rating is 13%. And who are these 13% who approve?

[nnuut]

Earmarks have been one of the main ways that business has been done in Congress for years, asking them to function without them is a big order, but that's what has to happen to keep them from wasting our money in the name of looking good in the eyes of the people in their home states. I haven't seen one recommendation on how to handle the tremendous number of Miscellaneous bills it would take to put these unique funding requests up for consideration.:confused:
CUT SPENDING, STOP THE STUPIDITY NOW!:nuts:

[FAB1]

Source: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=46737&oref=todaysnews

Porkulus III didnt pass

nobody D or R got nothing. But like I mentioned elsewhere the R's loaded the bill with earmarks to help kill it. The D's wanted it to pass. Big difference.

[hessian]

Porkulus III didnt pass

nobody D or R got nothing. But like I mentioned elsewhere the R's loaded the bill with earmarks to help kill it. The D's wanted it to pass. Big difference.
Glad to hear it didn't pass. Does this mean the gov'mint will shutdown - or is there some way to "float" it to"stay open"? :rolleyes:

[FAB1]

Glad to hear it didn't pass. Does this mean the gov'mint will shutdown - or is there some way to "float" it to"stay open"? :rolleyes:

They cut out 1921 pages and agreed to "float" for now so Keep showing up for work until they tell you to stay home.

its still temporary from what I understand so its not over by any means...The shaggy dog is moving on with just less fleas.

[alevin]

Ol Harry's working on a "short-term" quick fix to keep the doors open another 2 months, read that somewhere yesterday-can't recall where. this is why its important to have that emergency cash stash (3 months or more) on hand I keep harping about-shutdown happened in 95 too, for those that weren't affected back then. I was but was ok due to having cash reserves enough to carry me several weeks at least-don't recall how long I could have gone w/o paycheck, but more than a month, certainly.

[jimijr]

Alvin, I was on hand, too. Except that I am "emergency" so I did not get to go home those two weeks. I worked, I got paid. Those who did not work, through no fault of their own, also got paid (later).

Yet somehow I still feel the gov't owes me 40 hours comp time -- I'll take 50 cents on the dollar.

This time, I'm retiring on the 31st. I definitely DO NOT WANT a shutdown since it will delay the processing of my paperwork. Maybe the two month extension they're working on will be enough time, at least for my agency to process my leave payout. After that, OMB can take their time on the annuity.

[Steel_Magnolia]

This time, I'm retiring on the 31st.
I was on hand in '95 too. Doesn't it feel great to be leaving all the day to day stupidities behind?!

Maggie

[Silverbird]

Ugh, this would be my second time. To top it off, the week we were supposed to return had the worst snowstorm in years, so no one could get to work, and almost everything had to be paid for in cash (and nothing in the cash machines). Pick up my guitar and play, just like yesterday...

[James48843]

Right-wing Media Continue To Cheer For Government Shutdown

22 minutes ago — 1 Comments (http://mediamatters.org/research/201012170021#comments)
Right-wing media figures used bills currently under consideration in Congress to continue to cheer for a government shutdown. Conservative media had previously welcomed the possibility of winning a Republican majority in Congress in order to shut down the government, "just like in '95 and '96."



Conservative Media Welcome Government Shutdown

Limbaugh Calls For A Government Shutdown Over Spending Bill. On the December 15 edition of his radio show, Rush Limbaugh said:

LIMBAUGH: Ten percent of the spending bill is earmarks. You just -- as I've said -- you just don't write a 2,000 page bill in a week's time. This has been long in development. Talk about strategic thinking. Now if -- here's the -- here's the key, folks. If the Senate does not adopt it by Saturday night -- this is why the getaway day was Friday. [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid [D-NV] dumps this yesterday. If the Senate doesn't adopt this by Saturday night, the government supposedly shuts down due to lack of funding. So people have been asking me in email, how can we stop it? How can we stop it? We call their bluff. We shut it down. We won the election. We shut it down.



More: http://mediamatters.org/research/201012170021

[SkyPilot]

Source: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=46737&oref=todaysnews

It seems that removal is redundant if it has been decided they are going to torpedo the bill anyway. The real test will be to see if now that they have committed themselves to open debate on appropriations if they will try to sneak things in again...

[fedgolfer]

House Leadership has decided to proceed with a four day CR that would go through Tuesday, December 21st in order to continue discussions around a longer-term CR.

[Silverbird]

9:00 PM and the Senate just passed the House Resolution - we are in business until Tuesday (after the President signs this -maybe he should add some tinsel). :suspicious:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/17/breaking-senate-passes-three-day-spending-bill/

[James48843]

In business until Tuesday.

Great.

I'll gladly pay you TUESDAY, for a Hamburger today.

http://cspan.org/Events/Senate-Approves-Stop-Gap-Budget/10737418299/


NJ6xBaZ92uA

[burrocrat]

In business until Tuesday.

Great.

I'll gladly pay you TUESDAY, for a Hamburger today.

http://cspan.org/Events/Senate-Approves-Stop-Gap-Budget/10737418299/



NJ6xBaZ92uA


ok, but i'm gonna charge you 10%, and i want it in yen.

[Steel_Magnolia]

In business until Tuesday.

Great.

I'll gladly pay you TUESDAY, for a Hamburger today.

http://cspan.org/Events/Senate-Approves-Stop-Gap-Budget/10737418299/


NJ6xBaZ92uA


The government budget process reminds me more of this cartoon character. :rolleyes:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz65AOjabtM

[PessOptimist]

If you get CSPAN on your tv, and if you have a strong stomach, and if you are bored/pissed/have enough time, watch our senators at work.

For the last several hours they have been discussing START and DREAM.

The Senators appear to have no anxiety at all about the .gov shutting down and are telling stories as usual.

Apparently they have passed H. R. 1776 behind the scenes. So much for S. J, Res. 42. Apparently you need to go to work Monday and maybe Tuesday. Only if Congress has time to resolve this tiny (to them) problem.

[Steel_Magnolia]

Senate GOP leader says deal reached on government spending (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/19/breaking-senate-agreement-over-spending/)

"The Senate will consider a proposal to fund the government until March under an agreement worked out by its Republican and Democratic leaders, the chamber's top Republican told CNN on Sunday...."

[Silverbird]

Summary of Continuing Resolution through March 4, 2011 [Press Release]
http://appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.download&id=09e5c8b9-ae13-4764-84ee-d4ad754fd0aa
[senate bill summary]

[Steadygain]

Summary of Continuing Resolution through March 4, 2011 [Press Release]
http://appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.download&id=09e5c8b9-ae13-4764-84ee-d4ad754fd0aa
[senate bill summary]

Thanks pretty bird !!

Very concise -- right on !!!

[James48843]

Continuing resolution got a Seante Cloture vote today- and passed- so it moves forward.


The actual vote on the CR is now scheduled for the Senate Floor for around 3 pm. today.

[fedgolfer]

"Hypothetically", people in dc may be talking of 5 to 10% cuts depending on the agency. Passbacks, hypothetically would then be appealed. The full yr CR is probably the best possible scenario for most agencies.... Doesn't look likely.

[James48843]

The "CR" is going to be until March 4th.


While it does not have any "cuts" in it, it also has very little growth- limited to key critical areas.

Because it also includes the pay freeze, agencies will not have to cut bodies to meet fiscal goals.

[fedgolfer]

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