Amidst the political chaos that has engulfed the United States, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was able to find solace in the fact that at least the government will stay open for business. After lawmakers came to a bipartisan agreement to pass a new spending bill to avert a government shutdown, Schumer took the Senate floor after midnight to say “Good night, for the American people.”
The Senate majority leader’s comments were a sign of relief as the congressional stalemate was finally resolved. Although a shutdown was avoided, the $854 billion spending bill is only in effect until December 7th. This means that yet another potential shutdown may be on the horizon after this temporary funding runs out. Schumer’s words of caution reflect the sentiment that while the government is open for now, there is no definite guarantee that a future shutdown will not befall the nation yet again. Crafting a permanent legislative solution that fails to receive government-shutdown-threatening vetoes is imperative.
The current bill keeps the government open until December 7th. In the meantime, Schumer and his fellow legislators have a duty to find a viable and long-term solution for averting any potential government shutdowns in the future. Hopefully, lawmakers can come together to accomplish this goal, as a government shutdown would have disastrous consequences for the people and the economy of the United States. For being able to find some calm in the midst of a chaotic week in Washington, Schumer deserved to give a good night to the American people.
