WASHINGTON — The nation is 15 days away from another government shutdown, but Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) doesn't think it'll come to that.
The current continuing resolution (CR) funding government expires November 17. That's when the government would run out of money and operations would largely cease.
Kaine said Thursday he is confident that Congress will agree to another continuing resolution, funding the government through late December. Then, he thinks lawmakers will come together to pass a final year-long budget.
"My expectation and hope is, without much controversy, we'll extend the November 17th deadline to year-end as would normally be the case," Kaine said. "And then, we'll continue to work and do what we can to send big bipartisan bills over from the Senate to the House and negotiate so that we make sure we get a budget that serves America's needs for the fiscal year 2024."
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) said last month that he's not quite sure what to expect now that the Republican-led House of Representatives has selected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) as the new Speaker of the House.
"The House after these weeks of antics needs to get its act together, do its job, just as we have to do our job in terms of providing the security that's needed and making sure the government doesn't shut down," Warner said.
If Kaine is wrong, and there does end up being a government shutdown, the consequence for Hampton Roads could be painful.
Old Dominion University economist Bob McNab has predicted that if there were to be a prolonged shutdown, it would send Hampton Roads into a recession.