Are Shutdown Furloughs Around the Corner?
December 11, 2015
To avoid a government shutdown, the House and Senate last week passed a short-term bill to fund the government until Dec. 16 as lawmakers continue to work to come to an agreement on a long-term $1.1 trillion funding package.
The short-term bill, known as a continuing resolution, funds the government at 2015 levels.
Stalling the negotiations are policy riders such as a House-passed measure pushed by Rep. Jim Jordan that would make the administration sign off on every Syrian refugee admitted to the United States. President Obama and other lawmakers strongly oppose the provision. There is also a measure in the long-term funding bill that prevents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from doing research on gun violence.
Budget negotiations are complicated by talks over a separate package, the $800 billion extension of tax breaks and exemptions. These include a child tax credit and an exemption that allows banks and investment firms to shield foreign profits from being taxed by the U.S. government.
