Government Shutdown Risked In Fight Over Disaster Aid

Congressional leaders are risking a government shutdown next week as they wait to see who will blink first in a fight over billions in emergency disaster aid.

But House GOP leaders maintain their push for offsets on emergency aid is in line with the new era of austerity on Capitol Hill. And they contend they don't have the votes to pass new spending without paying for it, so their proposal to attach disaster funds for the Federal Emergency Management Administration to the continuing resolution is the best way forward.

So begins the standoff with, so far, neither side willing to budge. Since the House is set to leave on Friday for a weeklong recess, lawmakers have only a handful of days to resolve their differences before the non-negotiable deadline of Sept. 30.