The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday morning to keep the federal government operating another two weeks and cut $4 billion from its budget.
The vote was 91-9.
Democratic senators expressed a litany of complaints with the short-term measure, but most were unwilling to vote against it and risk being seen as stubbornly resistant to spending cuts.
They also said they did not want to risk a government shutdown by squabbling over specific cuts, such as more than $500 million chopped from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Many Democrats were frustrated they could not pass a longer-term spending measure that would give government workers and contractors certainty and allow lawmakers to focus on patent reform, energy legislation and a jobs agenda.
The Senate vote came a day after the House voted 335-91 to approve the two-week continuing resolution.
The measure now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it.
Passage of the two-week stop gap sets up a bigger fight between the Senate and House in mid-March.
(Source: The Hill)
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One Response
Good. Much better that the shutdown start on Shushan Purim.
Even better if they can hold off a month after that and close for Pesach. Even if frum civil servants won’t get paid, they won’t have to use leave time to take off for yuntuf.