Republicans Set Stage For Government Shutdown By Blocking Transportation Bill

[Purveyor]

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A battle in Congress expected this fall over the budget and a potential government shutdown broke out early on Thursday as Republicans in the U.S. Senate effectively killed a $54 billion spending bill for transportation and housing projects.

All but one Republican voted against the measure, denying it the 60 votes it needed to advance past a procedural hurdle.

Blockage of the Senate’s first appropriations bill, along with a decision on Wednesday by Republicans in the House of Representatives to halt consideration of their own transportation funding measure, sends Congress back to the drawing board to find a way to agree on spending and taxes.

It marked the failure of a much-touted return to normal budgeting practices in Congress as a way to try to overcome deep fiscal divisions between the two parties.

When Congress returns from a five-week recess in September, lawmakers will have just nine legislative days to craft a stop-gap funding measure to keep government agencies from shutting down as the new fiscal year gets under way on October 1.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/01/republicans-set-stage-for-government-shutdown-by-blocking-transportation-bill/

[Berlum]

1. Why do Republicons HATE America and Americans?

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Wonder how many jobs were lost by the GOP blockage.