KHJ News Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports:
Lawmakers will again face the job of keeping the lights on, with government funding and that for ASG again at risk.
Fiscal hawk and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley…
Grassley “Funding the federal government is a core responsibility of Congress. The fiscal year begins October 1st each year. If appropriations bills are not signed into law by September 30th, lawmakers and the president must agree on a temporary spending resolution. If that fails, the unfunded parts of government shut down.” :26
But House and Senate-passed stopgaps differ on December end-dates and special funding exemptions, and both lack White House defense items, risking a shutdown before the elections.
But another stopgap means a 1 (M) million-dollar boost for ASG to 30 (M) million and 1 (M) million for Pago Pago Port improvements in the House Interior bill will have to wait.
Also mired in political differences, the must-pass annual defense bill with the Senate’s 3-point-6 percent military pay raise and the House-passed bill’s 5-to-7 percent.
Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer object over the Iran war…
Schumer “The Republicans, Trump should not expect business as usual, when they’re engaged in an aimless war that is raising the cost for American people, losing lives, tearing apart our alliances. No business as usual.” :16
And then there’s the farm bill that reauthorizes American Samoa’s Nutrition Assistance Program, ASNAP.
Democrats demand two-years for states to fix SNAP overpayments before suffering funding penalties.
Ag Chair John Boozman told Democrats he won’t negotiate further on his compromise 1-year penalty delay…
Boozman “I want to be clear, a 2-year delay does not have the support of a majority in Congress or of the White House. The offer before you is the best, and it’s the final offer.” :10
It’s the 3rd year without a new farm bill. The outdated 2018 law’s been extended 3-times and may need a 4th by September 30th.
The Senate’s in for just 3-weeks next month, the House four and little time to pass big bills before the midterms, except maybe, to keep the lights on.
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