WASHINGTON (WV News) — Lawmakers on Capitol Hill narrowly avoided a partial government shutdown over the weekend, sending a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through Nov. 17 to President Job Biden just hours before the deadline.
Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., voted in favor of the continuing resolution in the House, while Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., was opposed. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., both voted for the measure to pass the Senate.
Miller, in a statement, said the work of House lawmakers is “far from over.”
“With no help from House Democrats, the White House, or the Senate, House Republicans have already voted to fund 70% of the government through fiscally responsible appropriations bills, and we will continue to work to fund the rest of it,” she said. “I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put aside partisan antics and do what you were elected to do: Pass legislation that benefits Americans.”
Mooney said the continuing resolution was “an affront to the voters who gave Republicans the majority last November.”
“This plan surrenders the powerful decisions on spending to President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. President Biden will have the ability to continue to push his reckless open border policies, record-breaking inflation, and the corrupt DOJ targeting President Trump for at least the next 45 days,” Mooney said. “Rather than stop out-of-control spending, this plan keeps our country on a path of unsustainable spending on the backs of American taxpayers, our children, and future generations.”
Capito, who warned of the consequences of a shutdown last week, said her vote was as “straightforward as it can be.”
“This continuing resolution, the only one that could have passed the House, enables both the government to remain open and for us in Congress to pass appropriations bills in the most responsible way,” she said.
Manchin implored his colleagues to reach a consensus on a long-term funding measure.
“I’m relieved cooler heads have prevailed and we were able to comprise to keep the government open. Our commitment to Ukraine remains resolute and we will find a path forward to ensure our support for Ukraine continues,” he said.
“We cannot continue to govern this way and must commit ourselves to finding long-term, bipartisan and bicameral solutions to the serious concerns dividing us like the debt of our nation, the security of our border and the geopolitical responsibilities we have to support democracies around the world.”