Speaker Mike Johnson pulled a vote Wednesday on a temporary spending bill that would keep federal agencies and programs funded for six months as it became increasingly clear the measure lacked the support to pass as a potential partial government shutdown looms.

The legislation to continue government funding when the new budget year begins on Oct. 1 includes a requirement that people registering to vote must provide proof of citizenship. Johnson, R-La., signaled that he was not backing off linking the two main pillars of the bill.

“No vote today because we’re in the consensus building business here in Congress. With small majorities, that’s what you do,” Johnson told reporters outside the House chamber. “We’re having thoughtful conversations, family conversations within the Republican conference and I believe we’ll get there.”

  • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
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    6 days ago

    I don’t understand why American has to go through this dumb-as-fuck pissing contest every year. For what? So whoever is in opposition can have a larger share of the pork barrel??

    • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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      6 days ago

      It happens constantly because politicians can fight over it and bundle in otherwise unacceptable riders.

      Also… they get a lot of talk show booking fees.

    • cannibalkitteh@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      6 days ago

      I feel like if I neglected doing a critical function of my job for a year and then grudgingly half did it so that I can coast a few more months, my boss would probably fire me.

      • MrJukes@lemmy.today
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        6 days ago

        What if your boss could only pick from one other person who was just about as bad at your job as you are, once every 2-4 years?

        • callouscomic@lemm.ee
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          7 hours ago

          All of these are poor analogies.

          Congress is more akin to group projects in school where nobody can properly function and produce something useful.

    • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
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      6 days ago

      Oh it gets better than that - sometimes it’s several times a year because often they just kick the can down the road for 3 or 5 months then have to revisit it again.

    • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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      6 days ago

      It’s quite simple, the 2 party system created by first past the post in USA sucks.
      It’s both inefficient and undemocratic.
      Countries like Denmark with 10+ parties generally pass national budgets with 80% majority.
      There has never in my life time of 60+ years been a period of even a single day, where government didn’t work because the national budget wasn’t passed.

    • schizo@forum.uncomfortable.business
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      6 days ago

      The cool thing is we don’t have to go through this pissing contest!

      Except we do, because we keep electing people to congress who wouldn’t be qualified to mop the floor at the local mcdonalds, and this is what happens when you send idiots to lead a nation.