Government Shutdown: Back to Work Not Doing Business As Usual
On Thursday, October 17 the federal government reopened its doors after a 16-day government closure and near default.
As part of the legislation, the federal government is funded through January 15, 2014 at current levels, and the debt limit is suspended until February 7th 2014. Additionally, the bill granted back pay to furloughed federal workers, aids flood-ravaged Colorado and provides funding for combating wildfires in the West.
Lastly, the bill requires the respective Budget Committee Chairmen, Congressman Paul Ryan (R/WI-1st) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to republicans and democrats to appoint lawmakers to a conference committee to come to a conclusion on the nation’s larger debt and deficit issues. They are required to report by December 13, 2013.
The U.S. Senate voted late Wednesday evening on the 16th, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 81-18 to pass this bill. The House of Representatives later affirmed the legislation in a vote of 285-144 sending the bill to President Obama’s desk who signed it shortly after midnight in the early morning hours of the 17th.
