The Government is at this hour shut down. For the Brits and others not in the US, I'll briefly outline how we got here.
Under the Constitution, the Federal Government's budget must originate in the House of Representatives and be concurred on by the Senate.
If a Budget is not enacted by a certain point, a short-term mechanism to continue funding the Government called a Continuing Resolution exists. Without a Budget or Continuing Resolution, no authority to spend money exists and the Government goes on furlough.
The most recent Continuing Resolution was passed late Friday night by the House but the Senate declined to concur.
The minority in the Senate declined to concur, insisting that debate over so-called "Dreamers," children of illegal immigrants born in the US, be a condition of passage.
In the Senate, a minority can stop a measure through a procedure called a "filibuster." This is prolonging debate through continuous speech on the Floor til 60 votes for what's called "cloture" can be found. THIS is where news outlets get the 60 votes for the CR, and what references to "test votes" are talking about.
So, we have a Government shutdown over IMMIGRATION POLICY. Absurd, but there it is.
Under the Constitution, the Federal Government's budget must originate in the House of Representatives and be concurred on by the Senate.
If a Budget is not enacted by a certain point, a short-term mechanism to continue funding the Government called a Continuing Resolution exists. Without a Budget or Continuing Resolution, no authority to spend money exists and the Government goes on furlough.
The most recent Continuing Resolution was passed late Friday night by the House but the Senate declined to concur.
The minority in the Senate declined to concur, insisting that debate over so-called "Dreamers," children of illegal immigrants born in the US, be a condition of passage.
In the Senate, a minority can stop a measure through a procedure called a "filibuster." This is prolonging debate through continuous speech on the Floor til 60 votes for what's called "cloture" can be found. THIS is where news outlets get the 60 votes for the CR, and what references to "test votes" are talking about.
So, we have a Government shutdown over IMMIGRATION POLICY. Absurd, but there it is.