Congress Votes on Competing Funding Bills to Avert Government Shutdown

Congress is facing a critical deadline to avoid a government shutdown on September 30, with both chambers preparing to vote on competing funding bills from Republicans and Democrats. Republicans propose a short-term, seven-week funding extension with increased security measures for lawmakers, while Democrats' plan extends funding through October and includes reversing Medicaid cuts and preserving Affordable Care Act subsidies. Despite House Speaker Mike Johnson expressing confidence in passing the GOP measure, neither bill currently commands enough support to pass the Senate, where breaking a filibuster requires bipartisan cooperation. Democratic leaders have criticized Republicans for a lack of bipartisan negotiations, emphasizing the potential harm a shutdown would cause to millions of Americans. Illinois' senior Democrat Dick Durbin has indicated willingness to rally Democratic support to prevent the shutdown amid the ongoing negotiations. Both proposals include increased security funding, but the sharp policy differences highlight the challenging path to consensus as the shutdown deadline approaches.