UPDATE—FRAZIER PARK, CA (Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 at 9:20 p.m. PST)—The president has signed the bipartisan bill that was written in the U.S. Senate and finally allowed to the floor for vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats and Republicans passed a continuing resolution and a debt ceiling increase which will carry through to about February 7, 2014.
Federal employees are expected to return to work tomorrow.
FRAZIER PARK, CA (Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 at 10 a.m. PST)— The political spin doctors are already at work as an announcement has been released that the partisan impasse that shut down the U.S. Government for 16 days and threatened financial default—with major international implications—may be temporarily resolved today. The stock market is up one percent on word that the U.S. Senate has reached an agreement and John Boehner, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has signaled that he will take the senate measure to the floor of the house for a vote by all representatives, both Republican and Democrat.
This is the first time for an actual vote since the crisis began. For the last 15 days, all polling has been done privately in the Republican caucus room only. An open vote in the house—which has not been allowed until now—is anticipated to pass.
Reuters News Service was quoted in the Washington Post:
“Both Democrats and Republicans are confident that the U.S. House of Representatives will have enough votes on Wednesday to pass the bipartisan Senate plan, a top Democratic aide said.
“Aides to House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, called senior Senate staff to say the House would vote first on the measure, the aide said. The aide said it appears certain to be approved with mostly Democratic votes.
“Boehner has been under fierce pressure from conservative members of the House not to call a vote relying on Democratic votes, and his job may be on the line if they continue their opposition to the Senate deal.
“Lawmakers are racing against time. While analysts and U.S. officials say the government will still have roughly $30 billion in cash to pay many obligations for at least a few days after October 17, the financial sector may begin to seize up if the deal is not finalized in both chambers….”
BOXER STATEMENT ON BIPARTISAN SENATE AGREEMENT TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT AND AVERT A CATASTROPHIC DEFAULT
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued the following statement today on the bipartisan Senate agreement to reopen the government and prevent a devastating default on our nation’s debt:
“Bipartisanship in the Senate is leading America out of a painful, partisan, self-inflicted crisis. Relief doesn’t begin to describe my feelings at this moment in history as the Senate came together not a moment too soon.
“During the 16-day government shutdown I worked to show through my committee chairmanship and as a Senator of the largest state in the country just how painful the shutdown has been to millions of Americans, and how we should never again go through another government shutdown or even a flirtation with a devastating default.
“There are many issues that divide Republicans and Democrats, but the one thing I trust this outcome ensures is that we will always keep the government open, pay our bills and work together.”
This is part of the October 11, 2013 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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