A Senate Republican introduced a bill Monday that would tame partisan spending showdowns in Congress by automatically funding the government during an impasse.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, proposed legislation that would automatically activate a stopgap spending bill known as a continuing resolution, for any government spending bill that does not clear Congress by the Oct. 1 end of the fiscal year.
“Almost everybody hates government shutdowns,” Portman said in a statement. “They don’t accomplish anything. They don’t get our fiscal house in order and they disrupt critical government programs that have a big impact on people’s lives.”
Portman called the government shutdown threat “fools gold” when it comes to partisan negotiations for a spending deal.
Portman introduced the legislation as the House and Senate negotiate the terms of a bill meant to fund the government for the remaining five months of the fiscal year. A temporary spending bill expires on Friday, and the nearing deadline has stirred talk of a partial government shutdown if lawmakers can’t pass a bill by then.
Democrats are balking at a request from the Trump administration that the funding bill include money for building a wall along the southern border.
Portman said the federal government has been impacted by funding closures 17 times since 1976. A partial closure in 2013 cost the government $20 million.
Portman’s proposal would extend temporary government funding automatically for 120 days, after which the federal government would be cut by 1 percent every 90 days.
