Additional Coverage:
- Spending bill to avert shutdown successfully beats filibuster with hours until deadline (foxnews.com)
Government Averted Shutdown After Senate Advances Stopgap Spending Bill
Washington D.C. – The Senate voted 62-38 on Friday to advance a House-passed stopgap spending bill, narrowly averting a government shutdown just hours before the deadline. Ten Democrats crossed party lines to join almost all Republicans in overcoming a filibuster and pushing the continuing resolution (CR) forward. The CR maintains current spending levels through October 1st.
The vote followed a week of intense debate among Senate Democrats, with disagreements spilling into passionate closed-door meetings. While some Democratic senators publicly opposed the CR, others, like Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), argued against a shutdown, emphasizing the need to compromise despite acknowledging the bill’s imperfections.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) initially sought a shorter-term CR but ultimately voted in favor of the House version, citing the need to avoid giving a “gift” to former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. This decision drew criticism from other Democrats, including House Democratic leaders and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who urged senators to support a shorter, four-week extension. The division within the Democratic party underscores the challenges of navigating budget negotiations in a deeply divided political climate.