In The Denver Gazette, reporter Rachel Schilke explains how the longest federal shutdown finally ended on November 12 when the House approved a short term, Senate passed continuing resolution and President Donald Trump signed it. The measure funds the government through January 31.
Schilke details the key beats. The House vote was 222 to 209, mostly Republicans with six Democrats joining. The Senate had already cleared the path earlier in the week. Notably, the CR did not include Democrats’ central demand to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies. Colorado’s senators voted against the deal. The article also notes the shutdown’s real world fallout and Colorado’s stopgaps, from state support for WIC and food banks to keeping two Rocky Mountain National Park visitor centers operating. Add in a side squabble over a Senate data access provision and a ban on intoxicating hemp derivatives tucked into the package, and you have the full circus.
The Bullet Point Brief
• Same song, new verse. After 43 days of drama, Congress landed on a clean CR through January 31. No ACA subsidy extension.
• Votes that mattered. House 222 to 209. Six Democrats crossed over. Senate cleared it earlier. Trump signed it and the lights came back on.
• Colorado footnotes. Polis tapped state dollars for WIC and food banks and kept two Rocky Mountain National Park visitor centers open.
• Side car provisions. The package bans most intoxicating hemp derived THC. A separate Senate data access wrinkle sparked more chest thumping.
• Next cliff ahead. This funds the government for a few weeks. Without real appropriations, we do the shutdown shuffle again in January.
My Bottom Line
What a performative mess. Democrats dragged the country through a 43 day stunt to show the hard left they were “fighting” Trump, then accepted the same clean continuing resolution that was on offer before the pain parade began. Their marquee demand for extended Obamacare subsidies did not make the cut. Clown show.
Here is a brave idea. Pass an actual budget. Do your job for the people who sent you to that D.C. hell hole. Govern like adults, stop using families as props, and quit pretending hashtags and press conferences keep the lights on. We will be right back here in January if Congress keeps treating appropriations like theater.
Source: The Denver Gazette
