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By Peter Aleshire, consulting publications editor
The U.S. government’s still in business — but just barely.
And Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Sedona, is as mad as a wet hen about the whole, sorry mess.
Congress, on a straight party-line vote once again, just barely averted a government shutdown by passing a short-term spending bill to keep the doors open. Congress next faces the need to raise the debt ceiling before Dec. 15 or face a potential default on the national debt.
The House voted 221-212 for a continuing resolution to fund the government until Feb. 18, with an extra $7 billion thrown in to provide for the resettlement of Afghan refugees.
This week, Congress took the first step toward raising the national debt limit — to avoid a default with far-reaching effects. That action follows weeks of deadlock as Republicans in the Senate refused to waive rules that would have allowed the Democrats to raise the debt limit on a straight, party-line vote. At this writing, Democrats are expected to raise the debt limit enough to get through the next election, without the need of any Republican votes.
Last week’s continuing resolution merely authorizes the government to pay for programs previously approved by Congress to avoid a government shutdown.
O’Halleran, a moderate Democrat who represents most of Pinal County, supported the continuing resolution to avert a shutdown, but blasted the process. His swing district includes the White Mountains and southern Gila County.
