Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill to the Senate to permanently end the implementation of a government shutdown. The End Government Shutdowns Act would create an automatic continuing resolution to keep federal agencies operating when lawmakers failed to meet budget negotiation deadlines, according to a Senate statement released Friday.
The bill came from Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.Â
“Shutdowns inevitably costs taxpayers more money once the government reopens,†Rob Portman said. “We should end government shutdowns for good.†He added the bill would provide lawmakers more time to settle a government budget and give federal workers and their families more stability.Â
“When the government shuts down, Americans are deprived of essential services and their tax dollars are needlessly wasted,†Chuck Grassley said.
Portman has been introducing the same bill since he entered the Senate in 2010.
