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Congress votes to reopen government, passes budget deal

Feb 9, 2018
The budget deal amounts to $400 billion.
Sen. James Risch (R-ID) (L) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) leave the U.S. Capitol following early morning votes on Friday in Washington, D.C. Despite an attempt by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to slow down the process, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to continue to fund the government and lift strict budget caps.
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U.S. government shuts down for the second time in 2018

Feb 8, 2018
The shutdown came after Kentucky Senator Rand Paul blocked a vote on the budget plan.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

A two-year shutdown of government shutdowns?

Feb 8, 2018
Congress had to pass a budget bill to avoid a shutdown this week. It also had to lift the debt limit or risk the government running out of money in March. So lawmakers packaged the bills. But they aren’t just doubling up on legislation, they’re doubling down on the national debt.   Click the audio […]

Two-year Senate budget deal provides certainty and busts spending caps

Feb 7, 2018
Of course, the Senate deal has to be approved by the House and signed by President Donald Trump. But, assuming that happens, we wouldn’t have to worry about shutdowns or continuing resolutions until the end of fiscal 2019. So what then would a two-year spending plan mean for the federal government?  Click the audio player […]

Behind all this market volatility, there’s another storm brewing

Feb 6, 2018
How does fiscal policy play into what's happening in the markets?
“I'm not concerned about market volatility. The fundamentals are quite strong,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said today during testimony before the House Financial Services Committee after two days of historic losses in the stock markets.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

How does a government shutdown affect our ability to innovate?

Jan 23, 2018
Even a short shutdown can have lasting effects on science and technology.
In this NASA handout, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Dragon spacecraft on board, launches at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 3, 2017.
Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images

After another shutdown, she's changing her definition of uncertainty

Jan 22, 2018
Lisa Goldenberg, president of the Delaware Steel Co., on how "the bar's been pushed way out."
The U.S. Capitol at dusk on Jan. 21 in Washington, D.C.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Senate talks fall short, shutdown extends into workweek

Jan 22, 2018
The White House and GOP leaders said they would not negotiate with Democrats on immigration until the government is reopened.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) leaves the Senate floor and walks to his office on Capitol Hill, January 21, 2018 in Washington, D.C. 
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U.S. Government shuts down

Jan 19, 2018
Last-minute negotiations crumbled as Dems and GOP blame each other.
Capitol building at night. 
Capitol building at night by M.Fitzsimmons is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0.

A government shutdown is unlikely to move markets

Jan 19, 2018
It’s not a question of whether the US can pay its bills or debts to investors.
The U.S. Capitol is seen reflected in the windows of the Capitol Visitors Center as lawmakers work to avert a government shutdown January 19, 2018 in Washington, D.C.
Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images