(Washington) The US Senate rejected measures on Friday to finance federal agencies for a few weeks, on the occasion of the start of the new budget year on the 1er October, which increases the risks of partial paralysis of the government on this date.
The leaders of the two parties sought to reject the responsibility of this showdown on the other camp. Democrats accused the Republicans of not having negotiated with them to respond to some of their health priorities in the context of the financing measure, even though they knew that democratic votes would be necessary to submit a bill to the president.
The Republicans said that their requests would result in a significant increase in expenses and that they were not relevant to the fundamental question of maintaining the complete operation of agencies for a short period, the time that negotiations continue on an annual expenditure measure.
“The republican bill is a clear, non -partisan and short -term resolution aimed at funding the government in order to give us time to carry out the process of approving credits. However, the Democratic bill is just the opposite, said the head of majority in the Senate, John Thune, shortly before the votes. This is what one might call, not a clean republican reform, but a dirty republican reform, in charge of partisan policies and seductions for the leftist base of the Democrats. »»
The Democratic proposal would extend the improved health insurance subsidies which were to expire at the end of the year, and would cancel the cups in Medicaid included in the republican bill on significant tax alternatives and expense reductions, adopted earlier this year.
“The American people will observe what the Republicans do, what the Democrats do, and it will be clear that public opinion will be on our side,” said the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, of New York, who threatened several times with paralysis if the situation of the health system was not settled.
This Senate decision follows the adoption, earlier in the day, by the House of Representatives of the financing bill, carried by the Republicans. This measure would extend government funding at its current levels for seven weeks.
The bill would also add around 88 million US to financing the security of the legislators, members of the Supreme Court and the Executive Power, following the assassination of the Conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The vote ended in 217 votes against 212. Representative Jared Golden, of Maine, was the only democratic member to support the bill.
The president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, said that he knew that he had little votes to convince his republican colleagues to vote in favor of the financing plan, a measure to which many members of his conference regularly opposed during the previous budgetary battles.
But this time, members of the Republican Party see the opportunity to present Democrats as responsible for government paralysis.
“The ball is in the camp of Chuck Schumer. I hope he will do what is needed. I hope he will not choose to paralyze the government and inflict suffering on the American people, “added Mr. Johnson.
President Donald Trump had urged the House Republicans to adopt the bill and had left Democrats the responsibility to oppose it. Republican leaders often need Donald Trump’s help to convince refractory to legislation.
“All the Republicans of the Chamber should unite and vote yes!” “Said Mr. Trump on his social network.
The Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries advanced that by opposing the maintenance of the resolution, the Democrats were working on the protection of health care of the American people. He added that with the control of the Republicans at the White House and the two Congress Chambers, “The Republicans will be masters of government paralysis. Final point ”.
After the voting of the House, the Senate reacted quickly to seize the measure and the democratic counter-proposition. None of the two obtained the 60 votes necessary for its adoption. It is still unknown how things will evolve.
Senators could then leave the city until September 29, the day before the deadline for paralysis. The Senate is on parliamentary vacation next week due to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.
