In the News

By Cierra Genelle

Back to square one, with hours to spare.

Threats of a government shutdown were increasing hour by hour Thursday night, as the House of Representatives rejected President-elect Donald Trump's new plan to fund federal operations and suspend the debt ceiling.

If the parties don't agree on a plan by Friday at midnight, federal agencies will shut down and thousands of employees could have no pay, days before Christmas.

A spending bill with more than $100 billion in disaster relief, economic assistance for struggling farmers, funding to re-build Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge and a pay raise for lawmakers, has been rejected.

Our local lawmakers, who were spending the following crucial hours in Washington, weighed in.

"We're going to stay here, and we're going to be available to pass a bill that will really be for the American people," said U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, (PA-04).

Dean, a Democrat who represents Montgomery County and parts of Berks County, says she's disappointed after voting.

"It is our constitutional duty to put forward the spending bill, and here we are, at the very last minute," Dean said. "It was a meaty bill. It was negotiated bicameral, bipartisan."

Congressman Dan Meuser, a Republican who represents Berks and Schuylkill counties, sent 69 News a statement that reads, in part, "President Trump once again demonstrated his unmatched ability to lead. This represents a significant reduction in unnecessary provisions that were included in the original CR, which neither the President nor I liked. This is a better deal for the American people."

"The Republicans are the ones who are in trouble here, and the issue is, is that Donald Trump and JD Vance and Elon Musk all are saying that this is a terrible resolution," said Tim Blessing, history professor at Alvernia University.

Blessing said the possibility of a government shutdown has become a steady part of American politics.

If it does shut down, agencies like the FBI, the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard remain open. Transportation Security Administration officers keep working and so does the U.S. Postal Service, which is an independent agency.

National parks and monuments would close, and many civilian employees in agencies like the Department of Defense would be sent home.

Social Security checks and Medicaid checks would continue to be delivered.

"This is falling on a weekend, holiday season," said Blessing. "Essentially, this has become part of the governmental dance. Now, will they resolve this?"

It's the next big question.

Reports said congressional leaders are regrouping to determine the next steps.

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See full article here.