Florida Sen. Rick Scott expects Congress will avoid government shutdown

"We should never see government shutdowns again," Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott told CNBC, less than two weeks before the deadline for Congress to act.

MikeTyes MikeTyes
Sep 20, 2023 - 21:05
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Florida Sen. Rick Scott expects Congress will avoid government shutdown

U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks after the Senate Republican GOP leadership election on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 10, 2020.

Erin Scott | Reuters

WASHINGTON — Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, on Wednesday said he expects Congress will reach a deal to avoid a government shutdown less than two weeks before a looming deadline.

"We ought to stop this idea that we're going to see government shutdowns," Scott told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"We should never see government shutdowns again," he said.

Scott said the conservative House Freedom Caucus is working on a plan that will cut what he called wasteful spending, secure the U.S. border and lower inflation rates.

Senate Republicans, meanwhile, are developing a continuing resolution that, while not a "perfect solution," will work toward preventing shutdowns, he said.

Scott's remarks come just a day after House Republicans failed to advance two spending bills and progress with a temporary continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown.

Members of the House Republican Conference introduced a bill on Sunday to fund the government through Oct. 31.

The controversial deal included cuts to domestic spending and funding for border security.

But it was expected to fail in the majority-Democrat Senate.