Biden slams 'extreme Republicans' for budget block before gov shutdown
US lawmakers have a deadline of September 30 to reach an agreement on attaining a spending bill, before funding for government reaches rock bottom.
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President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 2, 2023. (AP)
Delivering his speech at a Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner on Saturday, US President Joe Biden called out "a small group of extreme Republicans" for a budget block that has left the US a week away from a government shutdown.
"Now a small group of extreme Republicans don't want to live up to the deal so now everyone in America could be forced to pay the price," he said, adding that he had already agreed with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on government spending.
"Funding the government is one of the most basic responsibilities of Congress. It's time for Republicans to start doing the job America elected them to do. Let's get this done," Biden noted.
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This comes as US lawmakers have a deadline of September 30 to reach an agreement on attaining a spending bill, before funding for government reaches rock bottom.
Bickering for bills
The matter is that the White House is pressuring lawmakers to pass any budget bill to secure $24 billion in military aid for Ukraine, which explains why some Republicans are opposing it.
A government shutdown means risking the incomes of hundreds of thousands of workers at federal parks, museums, and the like while carrying heavy political costs for Biden as the 2024 election nears.
Republicans and Democrats tend to use the shutdown to obtain concessions from each other and pass bills until a solution is found at the last minute.
A new military package was announced for Ukraine by Biden on Friday, due to include the second Hawk air defense battery and monthly deliveries of weapons systems during winter. Biden announced that military and security systems will continue to be sent in support of Ukraine by the US and its allies.
"Together with our allies and partners, we will continue to provide security systems to support Ukraine's progress in reclaiming its territory," Biden said.
Biden announced the package a few days after a new report by Bloomberg highlighted that low housing affordability in the US is putting pressure on both prospective homebuyers and renters, with the potential of it becoming a significant issue in presidential politics.
