BlueMauMau – WASHINGTON—After sixteen days of a shutdown, the House of Representatives voted to approve a Senate deal to end the U.S. federal shutdown and to extend the debt ceiling. The budget compromise won 285-144, a larger margin than anticipated. The final act by the House funds the government until January and allows the Treasury to borrow to pay expenses approved by Congress. It comes after the GOP in the House fought hard to postpone the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and keep down government costs.
“We fought the good fight. We just didn’t win,” summarized Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner (R-OH) to an Ohio radio station.
President Obama signed the Senate and House act into law shortly after midnight Thursday morning.
Franchisees and franchisors are already heaving a sigh of relief that the 16-day partial government shutdown is over, but they are also voicing concerns about the impact on their business.
“We are pleased that Congress has moved to resolve government closures and possible default,” stated franchisee Keith Miller late Wednesday night. Miller is chairman of the D.C.-based Coalition of Franchisee Associations, which represents the interests of franchise owners from some of the country’s largest brands. “Our Congressional representatives need to get out of the shell of D.C. and understand that this sort of brinkmanship causes consumer uncertainty, real or imagined, which reduces sales and profits to franchisees. Our members have already been impacted, especially those in the hospitality industry,” Miller adds. He says his association’s franchisee members are frustrated with some of the policies of the current administration. “But Congress needs to learn to do their job without constantly pushing the limits of public confidence,” he stresses.