SENATE SCHEDULES NOON VOTE TO END GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

With the government shutdown entering its third day, the Senate scheduled a procedural vote at noon today that could pave the way to end the stalemate – but it’s not clear there’s enough support to break the logjam and reopen the government.

The House last week approved a four-week spending bill to keep the government open, renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program and suspend a series of Affordable Care Act provider taxes. Senate Democrats filibustered that bill, triggering the shutdown. Democrats say they want the budget bill to also address immigration policy affecting so-called Dreamers, young people brought into the country illegally by their parents years and sometimes decades ago.

A bipartisan group of senators is working to find a legislative solution, including reopening the government and approving another stopgap spending bill to keep Washington funded through Feb. 8. But after being in session all weekend, it’s not clear that senators will achieve consensus on either the immigration policy or the procedural vote at noon – potentially extending the government shutdown beyond today.

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BILL TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN COULD INCLUDE HEALTHCARE PROVISIONS

With less than two weeks before another deadline to avert a government shutdown, Republican leaders on Capitol Hill say they’re cautiously optimistic about crafting a budget agreement that also would include several key healthcare provisions.

The budget outline would include setting top-line budget numbers for two fiscal years, a long-term reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), renewal of Medicare payment provisions and a series of changes to Affordable Care Act (ACA) provider taxes. While that framework has been discussed among Republicans and Democrats, congressional staff warn it has not been agreed to and could stall over a number of unrelated issues. For example, some Democrats say they will withhold support for a budget agreement or another stopgap spending bill to keep the government open unless their demands for immigration provisions are met. Continue Reading

SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: CHIP, OTHER HEALTH PROVISIONS AT RISK AS DEADLINE NEARS

Renewal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and a host of other healthcare provisions hang in the balance as congressional Republicans struggle to find consensus on a year-end budget bill that would avert a government shutdown.

Unless lawmakers approve a new stopgap funding bill this week, the federal government will close beginning Saturday morning. The optics of a shutdown couldn’t be worse for Republicans, who want to tout their sweeping tax reform legislation that Congress is expected to approve this week. Continue Reading

CONGRESS SCRAMBLES THIS WEEK TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

Congressional Republicans face a Friday deadline to approve a stopgap budget bill to avert a government shutdown, delaying until later this month key decisions on healthcare priorities like renewing children’s insurance and Medicare provider programs.

Republicans will push a temporary funding bill this week to keep the government open until Dec. 22, effectively punting a series of policy choices that could elevate the risk of a government shutdown right before Christmas. Continue Reading