The likelihood of a government shutdown is growing. Before taking this week’s congressional recess for Rosh Hashanah, the Senate was unable to pass a stopgap spending bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Upper Chamber will vote a week from today on the same bill that was rejected on Friday. “This isn’t the last vote that we’re going to have on keeping the government open,” said Thune. “There will be an opportunity for Democrats to vote on a bill that has already passed the House of Representatives, which, when passed in the Senate, can go to the President’s desk and fund a continuing resolution to keep the government open and give us another seven weeks or so to complete the appropriations process.” Senate Republicans and Democrats offered options for a short-term continuing resolution, but neither had the 60 votes necessary for passage. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is placing the blame on the White House. “Donald Trump says he doesn’t want to talk; he’s still in the ‘go to hell’ mode,” Schumer told reporters. “His marching orders to Republicans are don’t even bother with Democrats. That is not governing, that’s a recipe for a shutdown and the American people know it.” If there is a government shutdown, most Farm Service Agency employees will be furloughed. In addition, Commodity Credit Corporation funds cannot be tapped for new uses during a shutdown. That would likely impact any bridge payment to help farmers deal with the current financial downturn.
