The Republican-led House voted Tuesday to pass a six-month funding bill that would prevent a government shutdown at the end of the week, overcoming fierce Democratic objections. The vote was 217-213, with all Republicans but Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, supporting the legislation. One Democrat, Jared Golden, of Maine, voted for it. The bill, known as a continuing resolution, increases defense spending and funding for veterans’ health care, while decreasing non-defense spending below 2024 levels. It also includes more funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. With the House passage, the measure now heads to the Senate today, where Republicans, with a 53-seat majority, need support from Democrats to reach a 60-vote threshold to propel the measure to passage. Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has also pledged to oppose the measure, making support from at least eight Democrats necessary to pass the measure and send it to the president’s desk. That Democratic support could come from senators who represent states that President Donald Trump won in November, who face added pressure to work across party lines. Senate Democrats say the six-month government funding resolution is a “horrible” bill, but there’s growing sentiment within the Senate Democratic conference that it would be too risky to block the legislation and risk a government shutdown that could drag on for weeks, so passage of the CR is likely.
The Senate is also expected to vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #31, Stephen Miran, of New York, to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and confirmation of Executive Calendar #34, Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor.
The House is now in recess until Monday, March 24th.
