All posts tagged "Government Spending"

WASHINGTON — Heading into the third day of the government shutdown, senators from both parties continue speaking past each other, even as the House of Representatives remains closed for business.

Republican leaders continue denying Democrats a seat at the negotiating table — a table they say doesn’t exist.

“I don’t know what they’re doing,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told Raw Story while riding an elevator in the Capitol. ...

WASHINGTON — The federal government shutdown that began at midnight has Democrats distraught but Republicans divided on Capitol Hill, with some in the GOP looking for an easy off ramp even as others salivate over the opportunities a shutdown provides.

“Feeling good,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) told Raw Story Tuesday, through a broad smile.

“Go ahead and start combining agencies and cutting back on the bureaucrats and open up a few jobs.” ...

WASHINGTON — It may now be fall, but that doesn’t mean Congress finished its summer homework.

After taking August off, Congress returns this week to face basically the same teetering stack of unfinished business that was on its plate at the end of July.

A government shutdown looms, even as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal threatens to doom President Donald Trump and the stack of nominees before the Senate has only grown longer. ...

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate kicked off a “vote-a-rama” — a lengthy process where senators from both parties get to offer amendments, political or otherwise, on budget measures — as Republicans rushed to appease President Donald Trump by clawing back funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting.

Whenever the party in control of the White House changes, lawmakers seek to undo the previous administration’s agenda. Only this time, the Senate’s debating a $9 billion package shipped to Capitol Hill by former Trump ally Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency.

It’s an effort to enshrine otherwise illegal government-wide cuts — because, constitutionally-speaking, Congress is supposed to hold the nation’s purse strings, not the White House, agencies and un-elected DOGE team members....

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans are breathing sighs of relief after passing President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Democrats aren’t going to let them relax for long, though.

“Are you celebrating?” Raw Story asked Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL). “Happy?”

“I’m celebrating it’s over,” the former mayor of Miami replied. ...

WASHINGTON — An increasing number of congressional Republicans are nervous that President Donald Trump is forcing them to walk the proverbial plank and pass his “Big Beautiful Bill” — even if that means losing their seat. With the expansive measure stalled in the House, Democrats sense fear in the air.

“I think my colleagues across the aisle are scared,” Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) told Raw Story.

“They know there's a lot of pain. They know it's gonna be tough, but they're even more afraid of Trump.”...