Boehner: Government Will Not Shutdown

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) assured reporters Thursday that the federal government will not shut down at the end of the month.

Current funding expires on September 30. A vote yesterday on a continuing resolution to extend funding through November 18 failed 195-230, with almost every single Democrat voting against. In addition, 48 conservative Republicans voted against the bill on the grounds that it did not cut enough spending.

“There is no threat of government shutdown,” Boehner said. “This resolution was designed to be a bipartisan bill and we had every reason to believe that our counterparts across the aisle would support it. Once they began to see where some of our votes were, they decided to play politics and vote against disaster relief for millions of Americans who’ve been affected.”

Democrats were unhappy with the amount of money — $3.65 billion for disaster relief in the bill, nor did they support the fact that it was partially offset by a $1.5 billion cut to a Department of Energy advanced manufacturing loan program.

Boehner said he had a feeling that the bill would be rejected.

“I’ve always believed in allowing the House to work its will,” Boehner said. “I understood what the risk was yesterday, but why not put the bill on the floor and let the members speak? And they did.”

With the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) down to $215 million in its disaster relief fund, time is running out for lawmakers to authorize new funding.

“We’re going to meet with our Members and present some options to find a way forward,” Boehner pledged. 

A new bill could come to the House floor as soon as Thursday, and leaders have warned that the House may stay in session through the weekend. Both the House and Senate are scheduled to recess next week.

Click here and here to see pictures from today’s briefing.

House Suspends Recess, Returns To Washington For Jobs Vote

The House of Representatives is returning from their August recess this week to take up a bill aimed at preventing teacher and other government employee lay-offs.

The decision to suspend the recess was spurred by the Senate’s passage of sister legislation last Thursday through a close 61-39 vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has cast the move to return to D.C. as an urgent step to maintain vital services and prevent a “double-dip” recession.

House Republicans are displeased by the impromptu session. In a statement released last week, Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) accused Democrats of taking up the $26 billion bill in an effort to appease interest groups.

“The American people don’t want more Washington ‘stimulus’ spending – especially in the form of a pay-off to union bosses and liberal special interests,” Boehner said. “Democrats should be listening to their constituents … instead of scampering back to Washington.”

Democratic leadership claims the bill will ultimately create and save 290,000 local government jobs.

The House will formally come into session Monday, but a vote on the legislation is expected for Tuesday.

Republicans bring down the House

Republicans continued their impassioned speeches on the floor of the House without lights or microphones today. Tourists flooded the floor, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to sit in seats generally held by congressman and to listen to the congressmen speak.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) commented on the outbursts of applause from crowd members, pointing out that these expressions from the public in attendance would never be possible if Congress were in session. He went on to discuss new energy options, said in response to nuclear energy, “I’m not a big fan of doing things how France does them, but we have to keep the option on the table”. He went on to say “San Francisco may have the majority speaker from there, but [their views] are not the will of the American people!” to the cheers and applause of many attending the speech.

Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Ky.) said in response to allegations that Republicans are working for the benefit of big oil companies, “If anyone is working for big oil, it’s the Speaker who is keeping the prices high by not allowing us to increase [oil] supply”. Rep. Gohmert also brought bumper stickers for audience members which said “It’s the supply, stupid”, referencing former President Clinton’s 1992 campaign slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid.”

House Minority Leader Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) will be returning to the floor August 6th.