Senate passes multi-billion-dollar funding package to avoid government shutdown
FOX NewsFEB 2024
Biden Signs $460B Funding Package, Averts Shutdown
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The Spin
Democratic narrative
The threat of a government shutdown has yet again been postponed with an 11th-hour bill, but this all-too-usual fiscal drama isn't without consequences. Rating firms have downgraded US government debt, costing taxpayers higher interest rates and affecting faith in governance. These self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives — who allowed the debt to grow by $8T under Trump — have made budget brinkmanship a routine whenever a Democrat is in the White House.
Republican narrative
While a government shutdown has been averted for now, it's only a temporary fix that doesn't address the core issue — the US is sitting on an unsustainable amount of debt. Before this accomplishment is celebrated, it should be noted this will do little more than push the deadline back and see across-the-aisle clashes and GOP infighting postponed until, at best, fiscal year 2025. This isn't a win.
Cynical narrative
America has been facing the threat of government shutdowns every year in a bipartisan brinkmanship theater that only favors those seeking to increase public expenditure in last-minute budget-busting omnibus bills. Unfortunately, most lawmakers would vote yes on anything to avoid a shutdown, which is why the fiscally irresponsible always win. Legislation must be changed to automatically maintain current spending levels during deadlocks until the enactment of new appropriations bills.