Lawmakers finalized a massive spending bill just before midnight last night and are preparing to pass it in time to avoid a shutdown if the President signs it. But members of the Virginia delegation have introduce legislation to be sure it doesn’t happen now, or ever again. Democratic Congressman Don Beyer sponsored an End Shutdowns Act. And Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger introduced a bill she calls Stop Stupidity: Shutdowns Transferring Unnecessary Pain and Inflicting Damage in the Coming Years. “Because I think it’s tremendously important that we take steps to dis-incentivize members of Congress and the administration from using government shutdowns as potential leverage or a negotiating tool.” She says Virginia has much at stake. “Primarily because we have so many government employees within our district and know first-hand just what being lost when our government is in a shutdown status.” Senator Mark Warner introduced companion legislation last month in the Senate. And Senator Tim Kaine has just introduced legislation to prevent what he calls “debt ceiling brinkmanship.”
Virginians in Congress Introduce Legislation to Prevent Shutdowns
