Deadline Passes, Triggering Shutdown; Senate Rejects Short-Term Spending Bill
Both chambers were expected to be in session Saturday, continuing discussions over how to resolve underlying disputes
WASHINGTON—The Senate rejected a one-month spending bill early Saturday, triggering the shutdown of many government services and setting off a partisan fight over who would bear the political consequences.
In a dramatic night of failed negotiations, Senate leaders extended the vote on the House’s short-term bill for more than an hour late Friday night as lawmakers attempted to strike a deal to avoid the shutdown. But efforts to agree to a stopgap measure floundered, leaving Congress with no way to avert the first major shutdown of a government under one party’s control.
Five Democrats voted for the bill, which five Republicans opposed, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), so that he could bring it up for another vote later.
“What we have just witnessed on the floor was a cynical decision by Senate Democrats to shove aside millions of Americans for the sake of irresponsible political games,” Mr. McConnell said on the Senate floor after the vote.
Feds Collect Record Taxes Through November; Still Run $201.8B Deficit
(CNSNews.com) – The federal government collected record total tax revenues of $443,715,000,000 in the first two months of fiscal 2018 (Oct. 1, 2017 through the end of November), according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.
Despite these record tax revenues, the federal government still ran a deficit of $201,761,000,000 for those same two months.
That is because the government spent $645,476,000,000 in October and November.
The $443,715,000,000 that the federal government collected in taxes in the first two months of this fiscal year was $12,873,120,000 more in constant 2018 dollars than it collected in the first two months of fiscal 2017 and $11,352,180,000 more than it collected in the first two months of fiscal 2016.
Trump Says GOP May Need to Use `Nuclear Option’: Shutdown Update
President Trump says Republicans should use Nuclear Option (51 votes)
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) tweeted at 7:35 AM on Sun, Jan 21, 2018:
Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border. The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked. If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51% (Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no C.R.’s!
Trump GOP May Need ‘Nuclear Option’ (08:45 a.m.)
President Donald Trump says on Twitter that if the shutdown stalemate continues, Republicans should consider the so-called “nuclear option” in the Senate, which would allow them to vote on a long-term budget with a simple majority and no more continuing resolutions. “The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked,” Trump says to kick off a day seen as the final chance for a rapid end to the shutdown.
FINGER-POINTING…
FIGHT TURNS UGLY…
Nerves fray…
But who will be blamed?
CNN: Shutdown Risks Undetected Asteroid Strike…
China mocks American system.
AMERICANS MUST REMOVE TRUMP THE MOMENT HE DECIDES TO BOMB KOREA.
HE IS A WHITE MALE LIAR & THIEF & MUST BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE.