As Spending Deadline Approaches, Congressional Leaders Balk At ‘Schumer Shakedown’

With a possible federal government shutdown looming as the September 30 funding deadline approaches, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) is stepping up his demands for more than a trillion dollars in extra spending.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) continue to hold out for a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) that would provide stopgap funding to keep the government operating into early next year.

On Friday, Senate Democrats blocked a House-passed CR to keep the government running for seven more weeks.

Speaker Johnson told Fox News that the House and Senate conference committee needs just a few more weeks to work out the differences on a longer-term appropriations bill to fund government operations.