Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON — Congress passed a bill on Thursday that would prevent a partial government shutdown this weekend and keep federal funds flowing through March 1 and March 8.

The Democratic-led Senate voted 77-18 on final passage after considering a few amendments. The Republican-led House soon followed suit, passing it by a vote of 314-108.

The bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to become law before the funding expires Friday at midnight.

It is the third stopgap bill since last September as the divided Congress struggles to agree on full-year government funding bills. Thursday’s bill passed with mostly Democratic votes, with 107 Republicans voting for it and 106 voting against it.

A recent deal between Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on how much to spend in the new year has renewed hope of completing the process by the new early March deadlines. But that is far from guaranteed as right-wing House Republicans rebel against it.

The first stopgap bill led to the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker. His successor, Johnson, is seeking to avoid the same fate by selling the conservative victories in the latest deal.

Before the Senate vote, Schumer inveighed against “a loud contingent of hard-right rabble-rousers who thinks a shutdown is somehow a good thing.”

“In the twisted logic of the hard right, the theory is if enough people feel the pain of a shutdown, the hard-right can bully the rest of Congress into enacting their deeply unpopular agenda,” Schumer said on the Senate floor Thursday morning. “Bullying, intimidation, chaos. This is MAGA extremism in a nutshell.”

Around the same time, the House announced that it would cancel votes on Friday in anticipation of a winter storm and complete votes on the stopgap bill on Thursday.

The bill would extend the two-part government funding deadlines from Jan. 19 to March 1, and from Feb. 2 to March 8. The funding bill is unrelated to negotiations surrounding an immigration and national security supplemental bill that would provide aid to Ukraine and Israel. It’s designed to give appropriators more time to craft the 12 appropriations bills that fully fund the government using the newly agreed-to spending levels.

“We need just a little bit more time on the calendar to allow that process to play out,” Johnson told reporters, saying he’s “very hopeful” that Congress can pass all 12 measures.

“We’ll see how this develops. Certainly, we’re not going to have an omnibus,” he said, referring to the massive, last-minute spending bills Congress has frequently relied on. “And that was a very important innovation for us to forge forward because it’s no way to run a railroad.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
High school basketball coach charged with raping foster daughter, serving victim tequila shots: report

High School Basketball Coach Faces Charges for Alleged Assault and Supplying Alcohol to Foster Daughter

A basketball coach from Massachusetts is facing serious allegations, accused of sexually…
Ukraine targets 50,000 Russian casualties a month as war enters fifth year

Ukraine Aims to Inflict 50,000 Russian Casualties Monthly as Conflict Enters Fifth Year

PAVLOHRAD, Ukraine — In the fourth year of Russia’s extensive invasion, Ukraine…
Driver busted outside Nancy Guthrie's house after driving past up to 100 times with photo of missing mom

Obsessive Driver Arrested: The Shocking Story Behind the 100 Passes with Missing Mom’s Photo Near Nancy Guthrie’s Residence

Late Thursday evening, law enforcement apprehended a man for driving under the…
Four charged with child neglect after toddler consumes meth from sippy cup at Callahan home: NCSO

Four Arrested for Child Neglect in Callahan: Toddler Ingests Meth from Sippy Cup, Says NCSO

Four individuals, namely Hayden Simmons, Damien Windham, Erica Foley, and Judith Addison,…
New Illinois legislation proposal aimed at reforming how medical examiners ID bodies, notify family, ease legal action option

Illinois Introduces Groundbreaking Bill to Revamp Medical Examiner Procedures and Streamline Family Notifications

A new legislative proposal is making waves across Illinois, following an investigative…
Trump Directs Federal Agencies to 'Cease' Use of Anthropic Technology

Trump Orders Federal Agencies to Halt Use of Controversial Anthropic Technology: What You Need to Know

President Donald Trump has issued an order for federal agencies to “IMMEDIATELY…
Read President Trump's full speech after US, Israel strikes in Iran, urging Iranians to 'take over your government'

President Trump’s Bold Call to Action: Urges Iranians to Reclaim Their Future in Wake of US-Israel Military Strikes

“Recently, the United States military has launched significant combat operations in Iran.…
Churchill statue in London defaced with anti-Israel messages

Outrage in London: Iconic Churchill Statue Vandalized with Controversial Anti-Israel Graffiti

A man has been taken into custody following the vandalization of a…
Calabasas Viewpoint school teacher hit with child molestation, child pornography charges

Calabasas Teacher Arrested: Shocking Child Abuse and Pornography Allegations Unveiled

In a troubling case that has sent shockwaves through a prestigious Calabasas…
Rev. Jesse Jackson: Thousands continue to pay respects to civil rights icon on 2nd day of visitation at Rainbow PUSH HQ in Chicago

Thousands Honor Civil Rights Leader Rev. Jesse Jackson at Rainbow PUSH HQ Visitation in Chicago

In Chicago, memorial tributes for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. continued on…
California dad Thomas Simpkins found dead near Levi's Stadium, vanished after Super Bowl party

California Father Thomas Simpkins Discovered Deceased Near Levi’s Stadium After Disappearance Post-Super Bowl Party

A California father who vanished after a Super Bowl Sunday celebration with…
San Francisco Dem group unleashes $10M to kill CEO tax

San Francisco Political Group Allocates $10M to Oppose Controversial CEO Tax Initiative

In a bold move, a prominent organization in San Francisco is deploying…