Washington, DC — Members of the US House and Senate now have until the week before Thanksgiving to reach an agreement on spending or they’ll face yet another shutdown of the federal government, what Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says would be an embarrassment.
The temporary deal, known as a continuing resolution, was passed last weekend “in the nick of time,” Grassley says, with only a few hours to spare.
Grassley, a Republican, says it costs a lot of money to shut down the government and even more to open it back up, creating a no-win scenario. There’s now a reprieve, but Grassley says he’s not entirely confident the 45-day extension will be sufficient.
Last week’s death of California Senator Dianne Feinstein means Grassley — at age 90 — is now the oldest serving member of the Senate — and House. He was asked if it changes his perspective, or brings an added sense of responsibility as the eldest statesman.
No, it doesn’t change my perspective at all,” Grassley says. “The only thing I can say is, the alternative wouldn’t be as good.”
