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
Man dead after shooting on Jacksonville's Southside, police say

Police Report Fatal Shooting Incident on Jacksonville’s Southside

The victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Jacksonville…
New pope updates: Pope Leo XIV lays out vision of papacy and identifies AI as a main challenge for humanity

Latest on Pope Leo XIV: He outlines his papal agenda and highlights AI as a major human challenge.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV outlined his papacy’s vision on Saturday,…
Mets prospect Jonah Tong leads way in combined perfect game

Mets Prospect Jonah Tong Shines in a Combined Perfect Game Performance

The Mets outrageously robbed one of their own top prospects of perfection.…
Hudson, dog saved from East River, adopted by NYPD harbor cop who rescued her

Hudson, a dog rescued from the East River, is adopted by the NYPD harbor officer who saved her

In little over a month, a tiny dog named Hudson went from…
Aerial view of a building being destroyed by an explosion.

Putin Launches Major Drone Assault on Ukraine Shortly After Suggesting Peace Talks

VLADIMIR Putin unleashed a large-scale attack of kamikaze drones on Ukraine shortly…
Headshot of Jacqueline Ma.

“Former ‘Teacher of the Year’ Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexual Abuse of Elementary Students After Discovery of Love Letters”

A DISGRACED “Teacher of the Year” has been locked up for 30…
Newark mayor arrested amid protests against immigration center

Newark’s Mayor Detained During Immigration Center Protests

The mayor has been protesting its opening throughout this week, saying the…
Trump halts military strikes on Houthis but expert warns Iran-backed terrorist group remains major threat

Trump Stops Military Actions Against Houthis, but Expert Cautions About Ongoing Threat From Iran-Backed Terrorists

President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced this week that the United States will…
Keir Starmer giving a press statement at 10 Downing Street.

Keir Starmer Prepares to Challenge Nigel Farage in Election with New Immigration Policies

SIR Keir Starmer has declared that the Tories are a “busted flush”…
California track meet turns into rally against CIF transgender athlete policy

Track Meet in California Becomes Protest Against CIF’s Policy on Transgender Athletes

In California, a girls’ track event transformed into a political demonstration on…
Malcolm's Memories: That Time I Wore $15K in Cash Into a War Zone

Malcolm’s Story: When I Carried $15,000 in Cash Into a Conflict Zone

I probably should have thought twice, felt concern or apprehension. Maybe even…
Tour bus crash scene with emergency responders.

At Least One Dead, 32 Injured in Mother’s Day Tragedy: Tour Bus and Car Collision Erupts in Flames

AT least one person has been killed and 32 injured after a…