Senate passes bill to stop shutdown, sending it to President Biden’s desk

Senators voted to pass a new version of a stopgap spending bill early Saturday morning after the midnight deadline for a partial government shutdown came and went. The Senate advanced the third version of a short-term spending bill by 85 to 11, and it will now head to President Biden’s desk, who has already signaled that he will sign it.

An original agreement on a short-term spending bill was released earlier in the week, totaling 1,547-pages and including a number of policy provisions and disaster aid. However, billionaire Elon Musk and other conservative critics publicly criticized the measure, leading to condemnation from President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Trump and Vance issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon opposing the bill, stating, “Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH. If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF. It is Schumer and Biden who are holding up aid to our farmers and disaster relief.”

The initial spending measure would have extended government funding levels for fiscal year 2024 through March 14 and provide over $100 billion in disaster aid for those affected by storms Helene and Milton in the U.S. Southeast earlier this year. Additionally, there was a $10 billion provision for economic assistance to farmers in the bill.

The bill faced backlash from Musk and others due to its size and provisions, including a cost of living raise for lawmakers. Musk took to social media to express his opposition, stating, “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!”

After the initial bill failed to pass in the House, House Republicans proposed a revised measure that would extend current funding levels for three months and include a debt limit suspension for two years. However, this bill also failed to garner enough support, with Democrats and some Republicans opposing it.

As the deadline for a government shutdown loomed, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray warned that the government would go into a partial shutdown at midnight if Republicans did not return to the original stopgap bill. Schumer emphasized the need to prevent Elon Musk from influencing government decisions.

Ultimately, a third version of the stopgap bill was passed by both the House and Senate. The bill included economic relief for farmers and disaster aid but did not include a suspension of the debt ceiling as requested by Trump. The House passed the bill with overwhelming support, ensuring that the government would remain funded.

In conclusion, the passage of the stopgap spending bill came after intense negotiations and opposition from various parties. The final bill addressed the immediate funding needs of the government while avoiding a shutdown, showcasing the importance of bipartisan cooperation in times of crisis.