Congress Clears Stopgap Spending Bill for Biden, Moving to Avert Shutdown

The New York Times: Congress has successfully passed a stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown, with the House voting 314 to 108 and the Senate providing bipartisan backing in a 77-to-18 vote. The bill, now headed to President Biden, allows federal agencies to be funded through early March. The passage grants lawmakers an additional six weeks to negotiate and pass spending bills totaling $1.66 trillion, maintaining government funding through the fall. The constant threat of shutdowns has prompted a plea from congressional leaders to complete spending negotiations by March to avoid disruptions. Internal opposition within Congress, particularly from far-right Republicans, posed challenges, leading to a reversal by Speaker Mike Johnson, who employed special procedures to navigate the bill’s passage. The legislation maintains funding for key areas until March 1, with the rest expiring on March 8. Challenges ahead include objections to spending levels and demands for policy provisions, such as restrictions on abortion, creating a potential showdown.

The entire article can be read at the link https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/18/us/politics/senate-spending-bill.html