Biden says it’s ‘good news’ the shutdown was averted but blames House GOP for ‘manufactured crisis’

By JOSH BOAK and CHRIS MEGERIAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has pinned the blame for a possible government shutdown on House Republicans who, until Saturday, had been paralyzed by their inability to pass a funding package. President Joe Biden is hoping the rest of the country would see things the same way. But that’s an uncertain proposition at a time of extreme political polarization. On Saturday, with a midnight deadline looming, Congress approved a temporary funding bill to keep federal agencies open and Biden quickly signed it. A shutdown would have meant even more chaos in Washington at a time when Biden is running for reelection.