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Udall: Bill Would End "Shenanigans" Over Budget

Mark Udall
Mark Udall

With a shutdown of the federal government looming,  Colorado Senator Mark Udall has introduced legislation that he says aims to prevent either party from using a threat of a government shutdown to push its agenda. 

In a conference call with reporters Friday afternoon, Senator Udall said his bill would change federal law to require that funds be automatically appropriated at the previous year’s level if a budget isn’t agreed to.

"At the 11th hour, we need to remember that we’ve been elected to serve the same country, and not compete over a pot of fool’s gold that makes our constituents poorer in the long run," Udall said.

The bill’s future is uncertain. Udall says he hasn’t talked to President Obama about the bill, but he says he’s aggressively lobbying his colleagues from both sides of the aisle.  

A federal government shutdown would impact some 53,000 federal workers in Colorado.

Kirk Siegler reports for NPR, based out of NPR West in California.