Congress drags on full year funding bills, risking second govt shutdown

Despite only having until the end of January to pass the remaining nine annual government funding bills, Congress has so far made minimal progress.

The U.S. House is not planning on advancing anything before its Christmas recess, with all of leadership’s focus currently on a healthcare policy plan.

Republicans unveiled the text of the plan – the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act – Friday night, a counterproposal to Democrats’ failed bill to extend the Obamacare Premium Tax Credits.

The Senate, meanwhile, is currently stuck on a proposed five-bill minibus due to a couple of recalcitrant Republicans fighting over earmarks within some of the appropriations bills.

Congress has only seven weeks to find a solution before the government runs out of money, and it can take two to three weeks to pass appropriations bills through both chambers even after the ...