Fears Of A Government Shutdown In September

[Purveyor]

By Mike Soraghan and Manu Raju
07/30/08 07:56 PM

The prospect of a September government shutdown loomed over the Capitol on Wednesday as the two parties fought over rising energy prices.

It’s a fight some members of either party are willing to have, but others worry about who will get blamed for a repeat of the 1995 shutdown that President Clinton pinned on a Republican Congress.

Lawmakers and staff are starting to talk not just about how to avoid such a repeat, but also about who would gain and lose November election votes if it happened.

“The Democrats will probably want to play chicken,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

Senate Republicans debated strategy at a party lunch Wednesday, discussing whether they should block a continuing resolution (CR) that must pass in September if the government is to continue functioning, according to lawmakers who attended.

The moratorium on drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) has been renewed annually for decades in spending bills by Republican and Democratic presidents and Congresses.

Since Democratic leaders this year are not planning to pass most of the individual spending bills, Congress will have to pass a CR to keep government functioning past Sept. 30.

Usually, such resolutions pass easily. But this year, soaring gas prices have changed the political calculus and Republicans have decided the issue might rescue them at the polls. Republican leaders say Congress should not leave for the August recess without taking a vote on drilling.

MORE...

THE HILL: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/fears-of-a-shutdown-2008-07-30.html

[liberal N proud]

1. And of course the GOP would take every opportunity to blame Democrats

Right before an election.

[Turbineguy]

2. "If we don't give out more tax breaks..

we'll have to shut down the Government."

[babylonsister]

3. So they must go on vacation before they can shut it down? August

could work.