The deadline is here—and there will be no government shutdown. Congress passed a temporary stopgap measure last night to avoid Shutdown Theater, but the issue over the border wall is still unresolved. Congress decided to do what they do best: kick the can down the road (via Fox News):
Congress on Thursday approved a short-term spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown, punting the thorny debate over border wall funding and other issues until later in the month.
The stopgap spending bill, which was swiftly approved by the Senate after passage early Thursday afternoon in the House, would fund the government through Dec. 21.
Congress had faced a Friday deadline to reach a budget agreement, but lawmakers decided to effectively delay that fight amid this week’s services for the late President George H.W. Bush. President Trump is expected to sign the measure.
But the disagreements are far from resolved.
Seven of the government spending bills remain unfinished. The most controversial is the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which would include border wall funding.
The question over the $5 billion for that initiative in the Homeland Security Appropriation Bill has splintered the Democratic Party. House Democrats want to take their new majority for a spin, not wanting to give one cent to the measure, whereas Senate Democrats are open to coughing up $1.6 billion for border security.
This isn’t over yet, folks.
BREAKING: No shutdown pic.twitter.com/1qRnwRZ8X1
— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) December 7, 2018