In Effort To Block Government Shutdown, Oklahoma Senator Proposes Anti-Shutdown Legislation

With another shutdown of the federal government looming at the end of September, one member of Oklahoma's congressional delegation is again stepping up to try and prevent this and any other possible shutdowns in the future.

Senator James Lankford first introduced legislation to end government shutdowns in February 2019, more than four and a half years ago. That bill didn’t go anywhere, but with each new Congress, including the current one, Lankford and his Democratic co-sponsor, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), try again. He said it’s beginning to get some traction.

“Independents, Democrats, Republicans are all joining onto this bill,” Sen. Lankford (R-OK) said in an interview Thursday. In fact, Lankford was joined by Maine Independent Angus King on Fox News Wednesday in plugging the bill.

“This is the most basic principle you got in school and I got in school: if you don’t finish your homework, you have to stay after class to finish your homework,” Lankford stated.

“It’s the nearest thing we can do to locking everyone in the room to get this done,” added Sen. King (I-ME).

The legislation, according to Lankford, is straightforward – if lawmakers haven’t passed all appropriations bills by the end of the fiscal year – which looks to be the case this year – a continuing resolution automatically kicks in, keeping agencies funded at their current levels, and Congress keeps working.

“Congress has to stay in continuous session,” Lankford explained, “we can’t move other legislation, other than the appropriation bills, and we can’t travel so we’re here seven days a week--we might as well get it done.”

Some conservatives, determined to force Democrats to agree to steep spending cuts, say they’re willing to shut down the government for a time, if that’s what it takes.

“Most of the American people won’t even miss if the government is shut down temporarily,” said Rep, Bob Good (R-VA) at a Freedom Caucus news conference this summer.

But Lankford says that is not true. Border Patrol agents – performing a critical job right now – were among those who missed paychecks, Lankford says, the last time the government shut down in December 2018.

“And for those folks who live paycheck to paycheck, which is a lot of Americans,” Sen. Lankford pointed out, “it was really difficult for them.”

Beyond the workers who are affected, Lankford says, there are also many regular Americans who are affected by a government shutdown, people who may be trying to get a permit, a license or some type of help from a government agency, but who suddenly can’t get it because Congress didn’t keep the agency open.