The Senate on Thursday passed an interim spending bill to fund the federal government, charting Congress on course to avoid a partial shutdown ahead of a deadline at midnight Friday.
The legislation passed 77-18 in the Democratic-led chamber and now goes to the GOP-controlled House, where it is expected to be approved later in the day as lawmakers seek to depart Washington ahead of snowy weather.
The two-tiered stopgap funding bill means that March 1 and March 8 will be the new dates to pass the annual spending legislation before Congress will again face partial shutdowns.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing revolt among hardline conservatives against the temporary spending measure and his broader deal with Democrats on the annual topline budget figures. They accuse the Louisiana Republican of failing to secure steeper cuts.
Mr. Johnson and his allies contend he was honoring an agreement between his predecessor Kevin McCarthy and President Biden.
“This is what the American people want to see: both sides working together and governing responsibly. No chaos, no spectacle, no shutdown,” said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat. “But amazingly, not everyone in Congress feels that way. As we speak, there’s still a loud contingent of hard-right rabble rousers who amazingly believe causing a shutdown is somehow a good thing if it gets them what they want.”
House Freedom Caucus members have threatened a shutdown as leverage for stricter southern border security amid bipartisan negotiations on the subject in the Senate to be included in a separate aid package for Israel and Ukraine.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.