SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Congresswoman Kristi Noem thinks the possibility of a federal government shutdown is slim.
Noem says Congress is chugging along with the budget process and she expects to have funding for the current year done.
Noem says by the end of the month "we're going to be doing a government funding bill that will take care of 2017, hopefully. But then we get into 2018 as well."
Noem says some government operations bills have been passed. She says that includes appropriations for the Department of Defense which also includes funding for veterans. She says that specifically moves money to where the priorities are.
Noem says when Congress gets to 2018 lawmakers will start in on all 12 appropriation bills that they typically do have.
Noem says the process has been weighed down. She says it's been a strange time because Congress is working on two fiscal years.
She says its not the right way to do business but the "federal government is trying to right-size itself after a lot of dysfunction they we've had going on for awhile. And we're hoping for a cooperative effort in the future that will give all of the Americans a hope that we can work together to do the right thing."
(Thanks Jerry Oster, WNAX Yankton)