- Title: Democrats in Congress blame Trump, Musk for potential government shutdown
- Date: 20th December 2024
- Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 20, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) F/m INVESTMENTS, CEO, ALEXANDER MORRIS, SAYING: "Today stocks are getting a little bit of reprieve after a fairly difficult week, largely led by Jay Powell, reminding markets and incoming presidents alike that he and the Fed are in charge and they're going to do what they think is best for t
- Embargoed: 3rd January 2025 16:42
- Keywords: Congress Democrats Hakeem Jeffries House of Repesentatives Mike Johnson Party Caucus Shutdown Speaker of the House
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Budget/Taxation/Revenue,North America,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003864420122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Republicans in the U.S. Congress mounted a third attempt to avert a government shutdown on Friday (December 20) with only hours to spare, after two previous plans were scuttled by President-elect Donald Trump and members of their own party.
Republican Representative Ralph Norman told reporters that party leaders planned to hold a vote on a third spending bill, though he did not provide details.
Some Democrats in Congress, who met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday morning, blamed both Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk for the failed attempts to pass a spending bill.
"This is the problem with billionaires running the government.," said Michigan Democrat, Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
Some Republican members said they would not try to win over Democrats whose support likely will be needed to extend funding past midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it is due to expire.
If Congress does not pass a spending package, funding for everything from law enforcement to national parks will be disrupted and millions of federal workers will go unpaid.
Authorities warned that travelers during the busy Christmas season could face long lines at airports. Sources said the White House has alerted government agencies to prepare for an imminent shutdown. The federal government last shut down for 35 days during Trump's first White House term over a dispute about border security.
Republicans in the House were holding their own conference meeting, which started at 1730 GMT.
Several media outlets reported that Republicans planned to hold multiple votes that would allow lawmakers to vote separately on elements that have previously been bundled together. The House would then vote separately on extending government funding into March, disaster aid, and farm aid that is due to expire at the end of the year.
Lawmakers also might vote separately on raising the debt ceiling -- a difficult task that Trump wants Congress to do before he takes office on Jan. 20.
(Production- Tom Rowe/Julio-Cesar Chavez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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