CHARLESTON, W.Va. — President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress avoided a government shutdown on Thursday with the approval of a bill providing necessary funding into December.
The president’s signature followed the Senate’s 65-35 vote and the House of Representatives’ 254-175 approving tally. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., voted for passage, while Republican Reps. David McKinley, Alex Mooney and Carol Miller opposed the legislation.
Lawmakers had to approve a budget resolution before the new fiscal year began Friday. The measure funds the government through Dec. 3 and additionally appropriates money for natural disaster recovery and assisting Afghan refugees.
Thursday’s vote came amid a stalemate between Republicans and Democrats regarding the debt ceiling and discussions among Democrats about a separate $3.5 trillion proposal.
House Democrats have advanced legislation extending the debt limit to Deb. 16, 2022, but Republicans oppose the plan as the Democrats try to advance the party’s policy goals.
“They have the votes, they have the prerogative, and they have the policies,” Capito said during a call with West Virginia journalists. “They should be able to pass this.”
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned Congress that they have until Oct. 18 to act or risk the Treasury being unable to meet the nation’s commitment. Lawmakers also risk economic recession and a halt of government services like Social Security payments as the federal government would have to reduce spending.
Democrats are additionally pushing a sweeping $3.5 trillion measure on health care, education and environmental issues, yet moderates — including Manchin — have shared concerns about the proposal’s cost.
POLITICO first reported Manchin proposed a $1.5 trillion plan to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., over the summer. The proposal includes increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 25% and targeted sending caps toward existing programs.
“I think that we basically should be starting and making sure our priorities are put into proper place,” Manchin told reporters outside of the U.S. Capitol.
Manchin said his proposal focused on what the federal government can do and “not jeopardize our economy.” Manchin suggested a “strategic pause” on the current proposal in September amid rising coronavirus numbers, concerns about inflation, and worries regarding the effects of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.
“We only have 50 votes,” he said of Democrats’ majority in the Senate. “Basically, take whatever we aren’t able to come to an agreement with today and take that on the campaign trail next year. And I’m sure that they’ll get many more liberal, progressive Democrats with what they say they want.”
Progressives want to pass the sweeping measure with the Senate’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill. The House was scheduled to vote Thursday on the bill but the vote was pushed back amid disagreements about the other proposal.
West Virginia would receive billions of dollars under the infrastructure bill, including $3 billion for highways, $506 million for bridge replacement and repairs, and at least $100 million for improving broadband.
Manchin was part of the Senate group that drafted the bill. Capito led early negotiations between Republicans and the White House that did not produce an agreement. She also served as a floor manager for the compromising bill.
“I honestly think that the bipartisan infrastructure bill would be an enormous win not just for the country — and not just the president, Republicans and Democrats — but for every single person in our state who uses a road, crosses a bridge, who needs internet, who has problems with their septic tanks or water delivery,” Capito said.
“I think it is a choice between facing a dilapidated physical infrastructure system and grabbing the chance to modernize it.”
House Republicans are opposing the measure, which Capito is disappointed about.
The House delayed the vote on the infrastructure bill until Friday as discussions between the White House, House Democrats, and Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., continue. According to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the chamber will reconvene “no earlier than 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning.”
The Senate on Thursday also agreed to begin debate on a House measure suspending the debt limit. The chamber voted 50-43; Manchin agreed to start debate while Capito opposed the action.