Another shutdown looming

[TheBigotBasher]

Republicants thought this was a public project to give people swimming lessons.

The House Republican effort to pay for disaster aid with funds from an Energy Department fuel-efficiency loan program has infuriated Democrats, who say that the move is unprecedented and that Congress routinely passes emergency spending without offsets since it is, by its very nature, for an emergency. They have also howled about Republicans tying the paid-for disaster aid to the continuing resolution, a must-pass measure. Instead, Democrats are pushing for a separate bill that provides $6.9 billion in disaster aid, none of it paid for. That bill cleared the Senate last week with bipartisan support, namely with the help of Republicans whose districts have been hit by recent disasters.

But House GOP leaders maintain their push for offsets on emergency aid is in line with the new era of austerity on Capitol Hill. And they contend they don't have the votes to pass new spending without paying for it, so their proposal to attach disaster funds for the Federal Emergency Management Administration to the continuing resolution is the best way forward.

In total, the House GOP bill provides $3.65 billion for FEMA's disaster relief fund. But $1.5 billion of that is designated "emergency" spending and, as such, would become available to FEMA immediately upon the bill's passage. The rest would become part of the negotiations on fiscal 2012 spending bills that have yet to pass.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/government-shutdown-disaster-aid-budget-deficit_n_972470.html

The GOP solution.. Pray the storms away.

[peacebird]

1. "pray the storms away" That worked so well for Gov Perry.....

:evilgrin:

[Cool Logic]

2. "...$6.9 billion in disaster aid, none of it paid for."

$#!t happens, but we still have to pay for it.

[enough]

3. Can they actually think this is a good move politically?

I hope the "new Obama" takes this and runs with it.

[TheBigotBasher]

4. They've started the ball rolling tonight.