By Edgar Thornton

Late last night, Tuesday, October 16th President Obama signed a bill re-opening the government and raising the debt-limit. This came after three weeks of turmoil and negotiations.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, brokered this deal with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. It was approved by a margin of 285-144 in the House and 81-18 in the Senate.

The deal re-opens the government, allowing federal employees to go back to work Thursday morning, and raises the debt ceiling until February 7th and funds the government at current spending levels through January 15th. In addition, furloughed workers will receive back pay and the states will receive payment for federal programs executed by them during the shutdown.

Part of the deal creates a budget committee with negotiators still unnamed to address a long-term budget deal with a target date of December.

“This compromise we reached will provide our economy with the stability it desperately needs,” Harry Reid said on the floor Wednesday night.

Standard and Poor’s estimated that the shutdown cost the American Economy $24 billion dollars.
Both sides are trying to spin the shutdown in their direction.

One Democratic Senator described the “Reckless, irresponsible politics of brinksmanship over the last few weeks.” said Senator Chuck Schumer, D-Ny said of the Tea Party and Senator Ted Cruz, R-Tx.

The Texan Senator himself said that Washington is ignoring the will of the people.

“Once again it appears the Washington establishment is refusing to listen to the American people,” said Cruz.
The House is now adjourned until the 22nd of October and the Senate until the 28th.