Earlier this month, we discussed how the fiscal year ends September 30th, and in order to avoid a government shutdown, lawmakers must pass 12 appropriations (spending) bills. However, because Congress has proven itself to be incompetent, out of the 12 required bills, the House has managed to pass only one before the August recess. 

So now that lawmakers have returned, they only have a mere 11 days to pass the remaining 11 bills and therefore prevent a government shutdown. 

Due to conflicts within the House and Senate, it is suspected that these bills will not all pass in the allotted time, and therefore the necessity for a stopgap bill, which would extend the fiscal year until December, would be vital. 

As we discussed previously, Congress has used this stopgap measure two times, last year, and the year before, and it is deeply disappointing and quite frankly exhausting to see them having to use one again. 

Of course, a government shutdown would be devastating, it would have very real consequences on those who rely on government institutions and therefore, Congress should be doing everything in their power to prevent a government shutdown while representing our country's values, the people's demands, and upholding our constitution. 

Unnecessary spending like Biden's fanatical Ukraine funding project, or more aptly called, his money laundering scheme… should be cut out, work to balance the budget should begin, and inflation should be controlled, all whilst keeping the government open. 

However, it would seem that not everyone is keen on keeping the government open, and instead would like to profit off of a government shutdown. 

That person being Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said Sunday that she believes Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is trying to force a government shutdown as a way to help him “hang on to the U.S. Senate,” and halt the House's investigations into the Biden family.

Blackburn stated, "The one person who is really pushing for a government shutdown is Chuck Schumer, and this is something he thinks would help him politically as he tries to hang on to the U.S. Senate.”

Blackburn said it would be "very difficult" and "probably impossible" for Schumer to hold the Democrat majority in 2024.

Interestingly, Schumer had a similar thing to say about Republicans, stating when the Senate returns Tuesday will be “funding the government and preventing House Republican extremists from forcing a government shutdown.”

Here's the thing, the American people have time and time again made their demands clear. The budget desperately needs to be balanced. The excess in spending has caused inflation like never before. Food, housing, electricity, fuel – has all been subject to rising inflation and it is KILLING us.

 We should not be sending money to Ukraine, we need to focus our attention on home. Congress needs to represent the people and keep our demands in mind when passing these spending bills, which they NEED TO GET DONE ASAP. 

Pass the spending bills, stop bickering and focus on the citizens of the United States, balance the budget, fight inflation, keep the Government OPEN! DO NOT allow for a shutdown, especially a politically charged one.