On September 28, the House approved, 231-192, H. J. Res. 59, a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government beyond the October 1 start of FY2014. The House took up the measure for a second time following Senate action on September 27 that approved, 54-44, the CR with substantial changes to the original version of the measure (see The Source 9/20/13).
The latest House version of the CR would expire on December 15. The Senate measure would have extended FY2013 funding until November 15.
The original House measure would have defunded the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-152), commonly referred to as “Obamacare.” However, the Senate voted, 54-44, to strip those provisions, thus preserving funding for the law. The Senate changes to the CR required the House to reconsider the resolution.
In response to the Senate vote to maintain funding for the ACA, the House approved, 231-192, an amendment by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to delay until 2015 implementation of the ACA. The amendment also would allow insurers and employers to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage for the first year the ACA takes effect.
With Senate passage of the latest CR unlikely, the possibility of a federal government shutdown at midnight on October 1 increases.
