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By Miriam Raftery
October 1, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden has signed a stopgap bill to prevent a government shutdown threatened by right-wing Republicans. The measure funds the government for 45 days.
All five members of San Diego County’s Congressional delegation voted Saturday keep the federal government open. The Spending Reduction and Border Security Act, as the stopgap bill was called, passed with House Democrats joining some Republicans to pass the measure, though 91 Republicans voted against it.
The Senate later passed the stopgap measure, which President Joe Biden signed over the weekend.
The stopgap bill will provide short-term funding for federal employees, from military members and Border Patrol agents to air traffic controllers and national park rangers. But it does not include aide to Ukraine, which far-right Republican legislators have refused to support.
While right-wing Republicans rejected the stopgap measure, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy dismissed concerns that hardline Republicans in the Freedom Caucus could try to oust him as leader.The Repubilcan House Leader joined with Democrats to get the measure passed.
He told reporters, “I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try. “If I have to risk my job for standing up for the American public, I will do that.”
Democrats positioned the vote as a victory, and a responsibility because active-duty Navy, Marine Corps. Border Patrol and Coast Guard would have to serve without pay.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said, “I’m so proud that House Democrats outnumbered and outwitted far-right Republicans, held the line against their extreme agenda, and watched them fold,” said. Sara Jacobs, who represents central San Diego County. “Today, we extended our current budget and prevented a government shutdown, providing relief and continued paychecks for so many people across the country.”
The battle will be waged again, however, as efforts ramp up to prevent a shutdown before stopgap measure expires in mid-November.
Congressman Mike Levin said, “I voted to pass this short term funding extension because it was the right thing to do for my district, our country, our troops, and millions of hardworking families who need access to government services and benefits.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Congress to “live up to America’s commitment to provide urgently-needed assistance to the people of Ukraine as they fight to defend their own country against the forces of tyranny. America must live up to its word and continue to lead, ” Austin said, CNN reports.
House Democratic leadership said in a statement Saturday that they expect House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to bring a separate Ukraine aid bill to vote when the House returns. Bipartisan Senate leaders have also pledged to hold a vote in the coming weeks on funding to help Ukraine defend against Russia’s brutal invasion.
President Joe Biden issued this statement: “We cannot under any circumstances allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted.”
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