Federal Government Shutdown Looms
Given dissention within the majority party and their narrow margin in the House the Chamber has been unable to pass 10 of the 11 appropriations bills.
Accordingly most functions of the Federal Government will cease at midnight September 30th and almost all Federal employees will be furloughed. The attempt to pass a Continuing Resolution with a blanket eight percent reduction in spending failed and would not in any event have passed the Senate. The possibility of a Discharge Petition is under consideration but this would be a complicated process requiring cooperation between the minority party and a suitable number of moderate members of the majority party who would break ranks with their leadership.