Looks like the Senate’s latest episode ended with a cliffhanger!
Despite the House giving the thumbs up for the MASSIVE $1.2 trillion spending plan earlier on Friday, our upper chamber pals couldn’t quite seal the deal.
What seems to be the problem?
The Republicans and Democrats up there kept up their lengthy debate until the clock struck midnight on Saturday.
12:01 AM Saturday, and no dice.
Let the shutdown commence.
And if this shutdown continues to Monday, it will be felt in:
Department of Defense Homeland Security,
Department of Labor,
Department of Health
Department of Human Services,
Financial Services,
General Government,
the legislative branch,
and finally, State and Foreign Operations.
And what could be the reason that the Democrats are dragging their feet?
Could it be the amendment that deals with deporting criminal illegals?
BREAKING: A government shutdown is IMMINENT.
SHUT IT DOWN.
At least then, they can't spend our money. pic.twitter.com/pwt4GaKiWQ
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) March 23, 2024
🚨🇺🇸 BREAKING: U.S. GOVERNMENT ENTERS SHUTDOWN AS SENATE FAILED TO PASS $1.2 TRILLION BILL BY DEADLINE
Republican demands for amendments are allegedly the reason for the issue.
If the bill doesn't go into effect by Monday, all federal services falling outside the scope of… pic.twitter.com/BEidx7pwec
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 23, 2024
Fox News reports:
The Senate failed to pass a $1.2T government spending package that was approved by the House earlier on Friday, ushering in a partial government shutdown.
The upper chamber’s Republicans and Democrats did not reach a deal in which they would forego a lengthy period of debate and swiftly take a vote on the spending bills in time to avoid the shutdown. Due to disagreements between the parties on whether to consider several amendments, the bills weren’t passed prior to the 12:01 a.m. deadline on Saturday.
However, within the 11 p.m. hour on Friday night, the parties appeared to reach an agreement, with senators returning to the floor. Two senior GOP Senate sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that votes on amendments and the spending package are expected shortly after midnight. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced that an agreement was reached on the floor with only minutes until midnight, adding that several amendment votes would take place first.
The House passed the appropriations measures in the late morning on Friday by a vote of 286 to 134. However, the majority of Republican representatives voted against the package, demonstrating the deep-running resentment of the spending bills’ content and the procedure they followed.
This unhappiness was evident among Senate Republicans as well, several of whom refused to allow the group of bills to pass in an expedited fashion in order to avoid a partial government shutdown unless Democrats would be willing to take votes on several amendments, including multiple that were focused on the southern border and illegal immigration.
But the Democrats were similarly unwilling to take votes on all the GOP-requested amendments, particularly those with the capability of passing with bipartisan support, as they would send the package back to the house. They were also against voting on any amendments related to illegal immigration, as they might harm vulnerable senators up for re-election in November, GOP Senate sources told Fox News Digital.
The government is technically in a partial shutdown, but given the fact that the shutdown occurred during non-work hours and ahead of a weekend, the full affects won’t be felt unless it extends until Monday. If a spending package is not passed by then, the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, and Health and Human Services, as well as Financial Services and General Government, the legislative branch, and State and Foreign Operations will be affected.
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