The U.S. Senate and House voted tonight to fund the federal government through mid-January 2014 and raise the debt ceiling by enough to last until early February. Here’s the bullet-point version of the deal Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid negotiated with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In classic Congressional fashion, senators loaded this must-pass bill with a bunch of goodies. A new House and Senate conference committee will negotiate over the federal budget for fiscal year 2014, and that committee must reach some agreement by December 13. The big sticking point will be whether to fund the government at levels approved for fiscal year 2013 before the “sequester” cuts went into effect in January.

Tonight the Senate approved the deal first by 81 votes to 18. All the Democrats, including Iowa’s Tom Harkin, and most Senate Republicans supported the deal to reopen the government. Our state’s senior Senator Chuck Grassley was one of the 18 no votes.

House Speaker John Boehner reluctantly agreed to put the bipartisan Senate agreement up for a vote on the House floor. He had wanted to bring up a different bill, but a “stunning rebuke” from GOP colleagues forced him to abandon a House vote yesterday on his latest plan.

The House approved the deal by 285 votes to 144. Every Democrat present voted yes, including Bruce Braley (IA-01) and Dave Loebsack (IA-02). Tom Latham (IA-03) was among 87 Republicans who also voted yes. Steve King (IA-04) was one of the 144 House Republicans who voted no. He has long demanded that “Obamacare” be defunded as a condition of funding the federal government, and he does not believe that the U.S. faced a real risk of default if Congress failed to raise the debt ceiling by October 17.

I enclose below some Iowa reaction to today’s events. I will update this post as needed.  

Statement from Tom Harkin, October 16:

October 16, 2013

Harkin Welcomes Agreement to Open Government, Avert Default

‘This is what Senate Democrats have asked for all along: open the government, pay our bills, and then negotiate.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the following statement in response to a short-term funding agreement reached by Senate negotiators that will keep the government open until January 15, 2014 and raise the debt ceiling until February 7, 2014.  Harkin chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

“This agreement is welcome relief for Iowans and all Americans who cannot afford to bear the brunt of another economic crisis manufactured by an extreme faction in Congress. That is what the past two weeks and the last several months have been about: holding middle class families and our economy hostage to demands to defund or repeal the Affordable Care Act.  As a country, it is time to move beyond that debate and refocus our attention on policies that will grow the economy and create jobs.

“Throughout this most recent economic crisis, Senate Democrats have insisted on reopening the government and paying our bills first, followed by discussions on our nation’s budget and economic future.  The American public wants and deserves that action.  I welcome the chance to engage in these conversations in the coming months to help reach a balanced solution to our nation’s long-term fiscal challenges.”

Memorandum from Chuck Grassley, October 16:

Grassley Votes Against Continuing Appropriations Act for 2014

M E M O R A N D U M

TO:      Reporters and Editors

RE:      the Continuing Appropriations Act for 2014, H.R. 2775

DA:     Wed., October 16, 2013

Below is a statement from Senator Chuck Grassley regarding his vote against Continuing Appropriations Act for 2014.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the negative impact of not raising the debt limit, but there’s too little focus on the negative consequences of ignoring the $17 trillion debt.  Government spending has exploded since 2008, increasing the national debt by $6 trillion.  Obamacare is a drag on the economy and hurting workers’ ability to find full-time jobs.  Yet the President refuses to lead for fiscal responsibility, both short and long term, even with a government shutdown.  This agreement raises the debt limit with no action on the debt.  It’s a missed opportunity for forcing action to limit government and increase economic opportunities.  America needs the President to roll up his sleeves and work with members of Congress to address the long-term fiscal problems of our country.  Our grandkids depend on it.”

Statement from Bruce Braley, October 16:

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement after the US House voted to reopen the government and avert a first-ever default of the United States:

“Congress should be working every day to help our economic recovery, not to jeopardize it. That’s why I voted tonight for a bipartisan agreement that ends the threat to the Iowa economy by reopening the federal government and ensuring the United States pays its bills.

“Governing-by-crisis does nothing to create jobs or strengthen the economy. Iowa job creators need more certainty and stability, not endless partisan politics in Washington.

“Congress should immediately turn its attention to getting a new Farm Bill passed into law, which will help create jobs and grow the agriculture economy in Iowa. Action on this important priority is long overdue. In the coming days, I will be fighting to get this important job done.”

For the last 16 days, Braley has been focused on common sense efforts to protect Iowa’s economy and end the threat of the government shutdown.

On 35 separate occasions since the shutdown began, Braley has voted for both Democratic and Republican proposals to reopen all or part of the government. That puts Braley among only 5 percent of the House to consistently support bipartisan ideas to end the shutdown and get Iowans back to work.

BACKGROUND: BRALEY FIGHTS FOR COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS TO END SHUTDOWN

Among 431 voting Members of the House of Representatives today, Rep. Braley has been one of only about 20 that are supporting both Republican AND Democratic efforts to reopen all or part of the government.  In other words, while 95% of Congress is voting party-line, Rep. Braley is part of the 5% willing to reach across party lines and vote to reopen the government and put people back to work, no matter whose idea it is.  The following outlines efforts that Rep. Braley has supported to either partially or fully reopen the government, often putting him in the extreme minority of Members willing to vote across party lines.

Date

Action

Roll Call #

Whose Effort?

October 1, 2013:

Voted to fund veterans benefits

506

Republican Effort

October 1, 2013:

Voted to allow continued use of local municipal funds for Washington, D.C.

507

Republican Effort

October 1, 2013:

Voted to fund National Parks and museums

508

Republican Effort

October 2, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

509

Democratic Effort

October 2, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

512

Democratic Effort

October 2, 2013:

Voted to fund National Parks and museums

513

Republican Effort

October 2, 2013:

Voted to fund the National Institutes for Health

514

Republican Effort

October 3, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

515

Democratic Effort

October 3, 2013:

Voted to pay the Guard and Reserve

516

Republican Effort

October 3, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

517

Democratic Effort

October 3, 2013:

Voted to fund veterans benefits

518

Republican Effort

October 4, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

519

Democratic Effort

October 4, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

521

Democratic Effort

October 4, 2013:

Voted to fund FEMA

522

Republican Effort

October 4, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

523

Democratic Effort

October 4, 2013:

Voted to fund food assistance for Women, Infants and Children

524

Republican Effort

October 5, 2013:

Voted to provide backpay to furloughed workers

525

Republican Effort

October 5, 2013:

Voted to continue religious services for members of the military and their families

526

Republican Effort

October 7, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

527

Democratic Effort

October 7, 2013:

Voted to fund the Food and Drug Administration

528

Republican Effort

October 8, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

529

Democratic Effort

October 8, 2013:

Voted to fund Head Start

530

Republican Effort

October 8, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

531

Democratic Effort

October 8, 2013:

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

533

Democratic Effort

October 8, 2013:

Voted to allow federal employees to be paid on time

535

Republican Effort

October 9, 2013

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

536

Democratic Effort

October 9, 2013

Voted to fund the Federal Aviation Administration

537

Republican Effort

October 9, 2013

Voted to provide death benefits for military families

538

Republican Effort

October 10, 2013

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

539

Democratic Effort

October 10, 2013

Voted to fund border security and customs operations

540

Republican Effort

October 11, 2013

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

541

Democratic Effort

October 11, 2013

Voted to fund the National Nuclear Security Administration

542

Republican Effort

October 11, 2013

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

543

Democratic Effort

October 14, 2013

Voted to bring up the clean Senate Budget Bill to reopen entire government

547

Democratic Effort

October 14, 2013

Voted to fund the Bureaus of Indian Affairs, Indian Education, and the Indian Health Service

548

Republican Effort

# # #

Statement from Dave Loebsack, October 16:

Loebsack Statement on Deal to Avert Defaulting and Stopping Needless Shutdown

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after a bipartisan compromise was reached to end the needless shutdown and avert the economic consequences of defaulting.

“Make no mistake about it, the bipartisan compromise announced today, at the end of the 11th hour, could have been avoided and dealt with months ago. It is unconscionable that a small group of Tea Party Republicans would take our economy to the brink. Congress must pass this compromise immediately and end this manufactured crisis that is already hurting our economy.

“While I stand ready to continue to work with any member of Congress to avoid a similar crisis in the future, unfortunately, I remain unconvinced that the result will be any different next time. This agreement once again kicks the can down the road. We should have already come to a long-term solution. Iowans are demanding that Congress turn its attention from brinksmanship and political games to growing the economy and creating jobs. Fixing the economy and getting Iowans back to work has been and will continue to be my number one priority.”

Statement from Tom Latham, October 16:

LATHAM STATEMENT ON U.S. HOUSE VOTE ON H.R. 2775

Washington, Oct 16 f t # e

Washington, DC – Iowa Congressman Tom Latham released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives considered a motion to concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2775, Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014.

“We were given two horrible choices to pick from tonight.  My vote tonight was the vote for the lesser of two evils.  I could not support an irresponsible path that risks defaulting on the full faith and credit of the United States.  And, I could not risk an irresponsible default that jeopardizes the retirement savings of hardworking Americans and globally undermines confidence in the US dollar.  Washington has pushed the nation’s back against the wall – and this is no way to run a government – not even close.

I share the urgent concerns of every responsible American about our $17 trillion dollar debt and the many fatal shortcomings of Obamacare. This was the first round in a long battle ahead.  Tonight’s vote in no way signals that this fight is over from my standpoint.  I have a 100% voting record on both a balanced budget amendment and the repeal and replacement of Obamacare and I will continue that fight with every tool available to me.”

Iowa Democratic Party press release, October 16:

Chuck Grassley Votes Against Iowa Businesses, Working Families

Des Moines – Tonight, Senator Chuck Grassley stood with Ted Cruz and the Tea Party to vote against a bipartisan deal to raise the debt limit and re-open the government.  Had Grassley had his way, not only would thousands of hard working Iowans continue to go without the steady income they rely on, but businesses would have been staring at another recession.

“Chuck Grassley must not understand the real danger facing our country,” said IDP Chair Scott Brennan. “This shutdown not only has hurt working families, but threatened the financial strength and security of our country. Grassley’s vote proves that he stands with the Tea Party and not the hard working men and women of Iowa. If Chuck Grassley will not stand with Iowans,

Democrats stand ready to elect a Senator who will.”

Second Iowa Democratic Party release, October 16:

Democrats to Republicans: Don’t Put Us through This Again

Des Moines – After more than two weeks, the reckless Republican shutdown ended tonight with a resolution that reopens the government and raises the debt ceiling until February.  With this crisis behind us, Iowa Democrats had this message for Senator Grassley and Representatives King and Latham – don’t hold our country hostage again.

“Iowans are relieved the Republicans came to their senses and finally ended this shutdown,” said IDP Chair Scott Brennan.  “Senator Grassley and Representatives King and Latham held our country hostage for more than two weeks, and all we have to show for it are middle class Americans whose lives have been needlessly toyed with by the Republican Party.  We need representatives in Washington that will put the needs of their constituents first, not the reckless policies of their party.  We cannot allow Grassley, King and Latham to put our state and country through this again.”

THURSDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: I have not seen any official statement from King’s office, but he discussed his no vote on Fox News last night.

“I think we’ve identified 20 to 30, maybe more, strong conservatives here in the House of Representatives who have now gelled into a team,” King said. “We hadn’t been in that place where we did those meetings, had those dinners, talked and really related in this way before, so I think that will pay dividends over the long run.”

King also mentioned a “core of effective, conservative senators” who now have a “national presence.”

“And I think we’ll be able to gel together and move a more conservative, fiscally responsible agenda. And that’s the bright side of all this.”

King said he thinks the House Republican conference is “stronger and more unified than it may appear” after Wednesday’s vote. […]

King said there is no “personal acrimony” in the House, although there seems to be a “sharp, sharp division” in the Senate.

Asked what happens next with Obamacare, King said, “It would be hard to gin up this kind of effort again. I just think that’s clear. But we will see there’s a resistance to Obamacare (premium) bills, as people see their premiums going up 30, 40, 70 percent…”

King predicted that such cases will start to accumulate: “I think that if they hit all at once — if this were dropped in our lap on, say, the first part of January next year, the timing of it might be just right to do some of this all over again. But I’m concerned that it will come in incrementally, and the American people will accept it and just forget all the promises that were made to get Obamacare passed. And just accept this and capitulate and maybe drop their insurance altogether — pay the penalty…”