HERE WE GO AGAIN: Congress returns to work today, and job one is to pass a funding measure before the fiscal year ends in three weeks. Failure to do so would mean a government shutdown one month before the Nov. 5 presidential election, something nobody seems to want. However, with Democrats and Republicans unable to agree on full-year appropriations measures, the only viable option is another temporarily continuing resolution, or “CR,” which would keep the government open but freeze spending at this year’s level.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is pushing half a year CR that would punt the hard questions well into the new Congress that will take over in January, when control of the majority Democratic Senate and Republican House could be different. As a nod to his right flank, Johnson has agreed to include a provision requiring voters to provide proof of American citizenship when registering to vote.
