Republicans kill resolution saying government shutdowns are bad

 

House Republicans on Wednesday voted down a nonbinding resolution that says government shutdowns are bad, just days after a record-setting 35-day shutdown.

Democrats called up the resolution as a way to assure federal workers that Congress will do what it can to prevent future shutdowns.

"After all they’ve been through, we owe assurances to federal workers that Congress will ensure continued, uninterrupted operations of the federal government," said Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., who sponsored the resolution.

But Republicans opposed the resolution and said it's a thinly disguised attack attempt to blame President Trump for the shutdown.

"It’s nothing more than a message meant to go after the president of the United States," said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a staunch Trump ally. "I find this resolution nothing more than a political stunt."

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., protested the resolution by saying the House should be focused on border security and read the names of 50 people killed by illegal immigrants in the last few weeks.

Democrats called up the resolution under special rules requiring the support of two-thirds of those voting to pass it. That requirement, usually reserved for noncontroversial bills, was enough to kill the measure.

The final vote was 249-163, a tally that fell a few dozen votes short of passage by a two-thirds majority. Just 21 Republicans voted with Democrats.

Democrats could decide to bring the bill up under regular rules, which would allow it to pass easily with a simple-majority vote.

The resolution holds that shutting down the government "causes substantial damage to Federal employees" and also hurts the reputation of the United States.

It also holds that shutting down the government "is not an acceptable tactic or strategy for resolving differences regarding policy, funding levels, or governing philosophy."

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the shutdown cost the nation $11 billion.

Polling indicates the public mostly blames President Trump for the spending impasse because he refused to sign spending bills without federal funding for a wall. But surveys showed significant blame placed on Democrats, who blocked the wall funding.

Aside from the nonbinding resolution that got a vote Wednesday, Congress is considering binding legislation that could prevent future shutdowns by automatically providing continuous funding for the government if Congress and the president cannot agree on future spending bills.
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