House Democrats' government funding proposal goes down in flames with shutdown deadline in hours
House Democrats were blocked from passing a bill to restore NPR, PBS funding
By Elizabeth Elkind Fox News
Published September 30, 2025 12:36pm EDT
House Democrats made a last-ditch effort to pass their own government funding proposal on Tuesday, which was quickly scuttled by the GOP.
Democrats are pushing a short-term extension of the current federal funding levels — called a continuing resolution (CR) — through Oct. 31, which also includes a host of left-wing policy riders derided by Republicans as non-starters.
With the deadline to avert a government shutdown less than 12 hours away, Democrat lawmakers gathered on the House floor with the intent of calling for unanimous consent to pass their bill.
It takes just one House Republican to block such a move, which appears to be what Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, was poised to do. Dozens of Democrats, meanwhile, were gathered on the House floor to await the move.
But the Republican designated to run the floor for the day, Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., ignored their yells of "Mr. Speaker." He instead gaveled out the House's brief session without acknowledging them at all.
Sparse chants of "shame on you" could be heard from Democrats after the session ended.
Under rules dictated by the Constitution, the chamber must meet for brief periods every few days called "pro forma" sessions to ensure continuity, even if there are no formal legislative matters at hand.
Pro forma sessions can also be opportunities for lawmakers to give brief speeches or introduce legislation that they otherwise would not have.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-democrats-government-funding-proposal-goes-down-flames-shutdown-deadline-hours
