US budget: Scramble to avoid government shutdown

US lawmakers are racing to debate legislation that will avert a feared government shutdown. The stop-gap bill would allow Congress an extra week to reach a deal to fund the government to the end of September. The legislation will first be debated in the House of Representatives on Friday, just hours before a deadline for funding federal agencies expires. Republicans have been forced to make several concessions, the latest on funding for so-called Obamacare. If the bill passes the House, as expected, the Senate will take it up and, if it continues its passage, it will be sent to President Donald Trump to be signed into law. There are no known obstacles to the bill's passage, but Mr Trump told Reuters on Thursday: "We'll see what happens". "If there's closure, there's closure," he said. "If there's a shutdown, it's the Democrats' fault. Not our fault." The Republican-controlled Congress wants to avoid a government shutdown, which would close national parks and monuments, lay off federal employees and delay tax refund payments. The last shutdown, in 2013, lasted for 17 days. President Trump tweeted his frustration at the Democrats, saying: "As families prepare for summer vacations in our National Parks - Democrats threaten to close them and shut down the government. Terrible!"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Two killed in Portugal beach plane crash

Image
A man and a child have been killed after a light aircraft made an emergency landing on a beach in Portugal. Authorities said the incident took place on Sao Joao beach in Caparica, south-west of Lisbon. The National Maritime Authority said a middle-aged man and a young girl died after they were unable to avoid the plane. The plane's only two occupants were unharmed, it added. The Diario de Noticias newspaper quoted an eyewitness who said the plane had been flying at a low altitude over the beach, although he did not realise anything was wrong until other beachgoers began running. One young witness told Reuters news agency: "I was near the water when I saw the plane. I called my parents, the plane fell on the sand and ran over two people, fatally hurting them and another was injured, I think, but I'm not sure, people were running away. "The plane is still there, but the ambulances arrived quickly. I think maybe the fuel ran out because I find it weird that
Read more

Daca: Trump 'to scrap' amnesty for young immigrants

Image
Image copyright REUTERS Image caption Many recipients of the Daca programme have taken to the streets to defend it US President Donald Trump has decided to scrap a programme that protects young undocumented immigrants, according to reports. He will give Congress six months to draw up legislation to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca), sources quoted by US media say. The decision,  first reported in Politico , is considered a compromise amid strong support for the scheme. However, the sources cautioned that Mr Trump could still change his mind. He is due to formally announce his decision on Tuesday. The Obama-era Daca programme protects hundreds of thousands  of so-called "Dreamers"  from deportation and provides work and study permits. Trump travel ban: People denied entry can reapply Trump backs proposal to curb legal immigration Analysis: The immigration topic Trump keeps avoiding According to Politico, the White House informed Hous
Read more

Yemen war: Saudi-led air strike 'kills 26 at Saada market'

Image
The coalition did not immediately confirm or deny that it was behind the attack4 A speculated Saudi-drove coalition air strike has executed no less than 26 individuals in revolt held northern Yemen, surgeons and neighborhood authorities say. Warplanes are accounted for to have shelled a lodging and a bustling business sector in the Sahar region of Saada area. Dissident controlled media said the range was swarmed with regular folks at the time. There was no quick remark from the coalition, which has upheld Yemen's administration in a more than two year war with the Houthi development. The coalition has denied purposefully focusing on regular people or framework, however human rights bunches say it has bombarded schools, doctor's facilities, markets and local locations. The agitator controlled Saba news office said the lodging and market in Sahar were swarmed with specialists and slow down proprietors when the region was hit at an early stage Wednesday. Rebel-cont
Read more