UPDATE: The House of Representatives late Wednesday night passed a Senate-brokered bill to fully reopen the government and raise the federal government’s debt ceiling. – CNN
UPDATE: In hopes of convincing the House of Representatives to pass the Senate-approved measure to reopen the government and avert defaulting on its loans, President Obama stated “I will sign it immediately,” the Senate vote on Wednesday night, adding that “we’ll begin reopening our government immediately.” – CNN
UPDATE: Senate passes bill to avert shutdown in 81-18 vote. Now on to GOP House of Representatives. If passed, on to the President to enact into law –CNN
Following remarks by Senator Ted Cruz that he would not block or attempt to delay passage of the bipartisan Senate deal that came through today to end the ongoing government shutdown, Speaker of the House John Boehner said that he supports the deal and was quick to praise the GOP’s “good fight.” The Senate is set to vote on the measure at 6pm ET at which time the ball will be in the House’s court.
“We fought the good fight, we just didn’t win,” said Boehner in an interview with his home state of Ohio’s WLW radio. Boehner told the radio he would rally support from Republican members of the House to vote yes on the deal once it reaches them from the Senate. Boehner also said that he did not believe blocking the deal would be a tactic for the GOP.
Boehner reiterated that despite this loss, his party wouldn’t give up on their demands: “The fight will continue … Our drive to stop the train wreck that is the president’s health care law will continue.” Calling the Affordable Care Act a forced one onto the American people, Boehner said the GOP will employ “aggressive oversight” and “smart, targeted strikes” to expose the act’s flaws.
The Senate deal, which was announced by Majority leader Harry Reid and Minority leader Mitch McConnell this afternoon, comes just one day after the U.S. Treasury is expected to hit its borrowing limit, inhibiting its ability to pay back debts and subsequently borrow more money. The deal is a short-term one and is expected to end the 16-day shutdown and keep the government funded through to mid January.
If the bill is passed by both the Senate and the House it will be handed over to Obama for signage. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters today that the president is asking Congress to submit the plan “as soon as possible,” and applauded Senate leaders for their efforts.
Image via HipHopWired.
