Photograph by Jnn13
Republican and Democrat leaders in Washington have struck a last-minute bipartisan deal to end the federal government shutdown and raise the US debt limit.
The bill will now need to be passed in the House of Representatives and then signed by President Barack Obama before it becomes law. It is yet unclear whether the bill will muster enough votes to be passed in the House before tomorrow’s debt limit deadline, but the Democratic caucus is expected to be joined by a small number of moderate Republicans to end the shutdown.
However, the bill is a temporary measure and not a complete deal as it only funds the federal government until 15th January and extends the US debt ceiling until 7th February. Politicians in Washington still need to agree upon a long term solution, but they now have another few months.
The deal comes just hours before the deadline for raising the $16.7 trillion (£10.5tn) debt limit would have been reached, leaving the US government to default on its loans.
The Republicans do not appear to have gained much except unpopularity with their game of brinkmanship in Washington, with Obamacare already implemented, but White House press secretary diplomatically told reporters that:
There are no winners here…The economy has suffered…The American people have paid a price for this.
