Continuing Resolution – Continuing Destruction

 I just saw the news I was expecting to happen but hoping would not.

With a 54-46 vote, the Senate just passed a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government running for another 6 months.

When it became clear a few weeks ago that a full budget would not get passed by the March 15 deadline, the Republicans drew up a bill, without any Democratic consultation, to continue for another 6 months – to mid-September – with the same level of expenditure. The bill passed in the House of Representatives so the only hope to hold it was the Senate which needed 60 votes to bring it to what is called “cloture” so it can be voted on. The Republicans have 53 seats so needed 7 Democratic votes. One  Republican was voting against it so they actually needed 8.

The problem is that there was no provision for how that money would be allocated giving the Trump administration almost complete control. They can slash the budgets of the agencies they don’t like and put the money into border defense or wherever they want with no Congressional oversight.

Here is what Alexandria Ocasio Cortez said about the CR bill

The continuing resolution that will be voted on in the Senate today codifies much of this chaos that Elon Musk is wreaking havoc on the federal government.

It sacrifices and completely eliminates Congressional authority in order to review these impulsive Trump tariffs that he's switching on and off.

And on top of that for folks who are concerned about effectiveness in government, this Republican extreme spending bill removes all of the guardrails and all of the accountability measures to ensure that money is being spent in the way that Congress has directed for it to be spent.

It sacrifices Congressional authority and it is deeply partisan.

It is almost unthinkable why Senate Democrats would vote to hand the few pieces of leverage that we have away for free when we've been sent here to protect Social Security, protect Medicaid, and protect Medicare.

Mary Trump explains what will happen if the government shuts down and what will happen if the CR bill passes.

 … if the government shuts down … We know [what will happen] because we've been through this before. The government shut down twice during the first Trump administration. Federal employees get furloughed; national parks get closed; social security services are delayed; there are longer wait times at airports.

The continuing resolution Republicans are proposing is a six-month extension of the budget with all sorts of horrific expenditures and draconian cuts built into it…. One consequence is that Donald Trump and Elon Musk will have sweeping control over the disbursement and control of federal funds. In other words, congressional Republicans will further cede all of their constitutional power over such things. Steep spending cuts target social programs, veterans’ benefits, Medicaid, and food assistance programs like SNAP, while defense spending and Donald's cruel immigration crackdowns will be funded at even higher rates. … the cap on the administrative budget will likely force Social Security to reduce staffing levels [resulting in] longer wait call times and potential delays in disability claims processing— something that disproportionately affects seniors and low-income Americans…. The bill also guts $23 billion from veterans’ healthcare and housing assistance. This will have the greatest impact on veterans with PTSD those who are homeless. All of this while Republicans push to extend tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

Shutdowns are temporary. The impact of this bill will be permanent.

The passing of the Continuing Resolution means the continuing of the Republican’s destruction of America.

For balance, here is Chuck Schumer's esssay explaining why he thought a shutdown would be worse for America. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/opinion/trump-musk-shutdown-senate.html