So. I was kidding about this but now it seems like it might actually happen. Lawmakers and aides suddenly sound less confident it’ll get done by midnight.
We're less than 7 hours from a shutdown and there's still no vote scheduled in either chamber.
Rand Paul is holding things up in the Senate over a demand for a separate vote to avoid busting the spending caps.
The House is waiting on the Senate to act.
Tick, tock.
Rand Paul is holding things up in the Senate over a demand for a separate vote to avoid busting the spending caps.
The House is waiting on the Senate to act.
Tick, tock.
SPOTTED: McConnell and Schumer chatting on the Senate floor (bottom right). 
McConnell implores Rand Paul to drop his objections to a speedy vote on the budget deal. "It's time to vote."
Schumer joins him. "The difficulty here is the government will shut down."
Schumer joins him. "The difficulty here is the government will shut down."
"We're in risky territory here," @SenSchumer says as the clock ticks closer to a shutdown without a Senate vote scheduled.
.@RandPaul objects to the McConnell-Schumer request to speed up the Senate vote and avert a shutdown.
"We have a 700-page bill that no one has read that was printed at midnight," says an angry Paul.
"We have a 700-page bill that no one has read that was printed at midnight," says an angry Paul.
Rand Paul is blasting his party for no longer caring about the debt now that they're in the White House.
"I want people to feel uncomfortable," he says. "How come you were against President Obama's deficits and how come you're for Republican deficits?"
"I want people to feel uncomfortable," he says. "How come you were against President Obama's deficits and how come you're for Republican deficits?"
I know Rand Paul has a lot of ~moments~
But this is a Rand Paul Moment
But this is a Rand Paul Moment
Rand Paul makes clear he's willing to force a shutdown, which occurs at midnight.
"I think the country's worth a debate till 3 in the morning, frankly."
"I think the country's worth a debate till 3 in the morning, frankly."
Rand Paul is on a primal scream:
"When the Democrats are in power, Republicans appear to be the conservative party. But when Republicans are in power it seems there is no conservative party."
"The hypocrisy hangs in the air and chokes anyone with a sense of decency."
"When the Democrats are in power, Republicans appear to be the conservative party. But when Republicans are in power it seems there is no conservative party."
"The hypocrisy hangs in the air and chokes anyone with a sense of decency."
On the current course, we're headed for a government shutdown over a procedural demand for what would ultimately be a protest vote.
Steve Scalise’s office tells lawmakers no “imminent” House votes are expected but: “Members should prepare for late night or early morning votes.”
Update: Scalise’s office tells members to expect the next House votes at “very roughly 3:00-6:00 a.m.”
That means they expect a shutdown.
That means they expect a shutdown.
