Congress on Wednesday approved legislation to prevent a government shutdown, following a 277-151 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives that would keep federal agencies funded through December 11, reports The Washington Post.
More Republicans voted against the spending bill than in favor of it, objecting to the inclusion of money for Planned Parenthood in the measure. Every Democrat voted in favor of the legislation, The Hill reported.
The Senate passed the short-term spending bill earlier in the day on 78 to 20 vote. President Obama signed the measure into law just a few hours before the midnight deadline.
Without action by Congress, the federal government would have shut down today, the beginning of a new fiscal year.
More obstacles stand in the way of a comprehensive budget deal this fall, though, according to the Hill. President Obama and Congressional Democrats intent to lift caps on domestic and defense spending put in place by the 2011 Budget Control Act. While some Republicans have expressed interest in raising Pentagon spending, the party is almost unanimously opposed to boosting funding for domestic programs.
Related Links
The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/09/30/congress-set-to-pass-legislation-averting-a-shutdown/
The Hill
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/255498-house-votes-to-prevent-shutdown
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/255569-obama-signs-funding-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown