PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Congress has averted for now a threatened government shutdown that would have disrupted many services, squeezed federal employees and roiled politics.
The threat was set aside late Saturday after Congress voted to keep agencies open until Nov. 17.
Government operations can continue and federal workers will still get paid, but lawmakers are still a long way off from agreement on long-term funding legislation. Another standoff in Congress in the next 45 days could bring it all to the brink again.
Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents the state’s first district voted in favor of the bill and talked to Fox News about the decision.
“It’s good we are going to keep the government open for another 45 days, but there’s still structural problems we have to address. We should not be coming on the brink of default on our debt, shutting down the government, that’s no way to do business.”
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In a statement released after the vote, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey said, in part, “Today, common sense prevailed to keep the government open and avoid the unnecessary hardship a shutdown would have put on Pennsylvania families.
“I am relieved that House Republicans abandoned their draconian bill to cut law enforcement, Meals on Wheels, and nutrition programs for women, children, and infants, and more.”
The temporary spending measure passed through the House 335 to 91, with almost all of the opposition coming from the Republican right. President Joe Biden gave it his signature before the midnight deadline.
“But make no mistake, this was a manufactured crisis that could have been avoided if House Republicans had acted like adults from the start,” Casey continued.
Republicans and Democrats now have about six weeks before they face a potential shutdown. In that time, they could enact another continuing resolution, but if they don’t figure out a long-term funding solution, there will be far-reaching consequences.
Drexel University political science professor Bill Rosenberg, beyond the individual impact that a government shutdown could have by preventing someone from doing their job, it could start affecting the economy more broadly.
“We're really talking about billions of dollars that are basically taken out of the economy because government services are not being provided,” Rosenberg said.
He describes the budget conflict as a game between two political parties — one that’s in favor of what the government has already authorized and the other that doesn’t want to pay for items that were already passed.
“So it's kind of like, you know, you say you're going to order a meal and you're gonna say, ‘Yes, I want it,’ but then you have to pay for the meal.”
Rosenberg says the U.S. has experienced shutdowns before and they’ve all been different, depending on how quickly lawmakers can resolve their differences.
“If it's a day or two, it's probably not going to make that much difference. But in the past, we've had pretty significant government shutdowns.”
And depending on how long a shutdown lasts, it could impact America’s standing in the world economy.
“When one doesn't pay their bills, they don't look good. So you know, if you are an individual and you have a mortgage on your house and a car payment, and you start not making your car payments, your credit risk goes up, and it makes it harder for you to get a loan. And it makes the interest rates that you have to pay higher.”
Rosenberg says there is one answer: “You have to resolve these differences ultimately through compromise.”
But Republicans are already gearing up for another fight.
Rep. Matt Gaetz said Sunday he will try to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, from his leadership position this week.
Rosenberg says much of McCarthy’s troubles are linked to the deals he made to get voted into his position. He says if the speaker mishandles the situation, he could lose that title.
Gaetz, a longtime McCarthy nemesis, said in broadcast interviews that McCarthy was in “brazen, material breach” of agreements he made with House Republicans in January when he ran for speaker. As a result, Gaetz said he would be filing a “ motion to vacate the chair,” as House rules permit.
McCarthy’s response: “So be it. Bring it on. Let’s get over with it and let’s start governing."
No speaker has ever been removed from office through such a move. Procedural votes could be offered to halt the motion or it could trigger a House floor vote.
“I think we need to rip off the Band-Aid," said Gaetz, R-Fla. “I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy.”
If that happens, Rosenberg says, “The question is who would replace him?” when McCarthy’s colleagues are so willing to, as he says, to burn the house down.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.