This is a miracle development: the House GOP passed a spending measure to keep the government open, and it had Democratic support. Things were looking grim, especially since House Republicans failed to pass all four appropriations bills late Thursday night, an attempt to curry goodwill within the lower chamber.
The agriculture bill fell short, and while a procedural motion to pass a continuing resolution passed yesterday, the evening meeting among the House GOP caucus usually means that the votes weren’t there for a bill to prevent a shutdown.
And this wasn’t a slim win for Speaker McCarthy. The House overwhelmingly supported this bill. The Senate is expected to pass the bill before the deadline at midnight (via Politico):
BREAKING: On the brink of a federal government shutdown, the House approved a 45-day funding bill to keep federal agencies open. The measure now goes to the Senate. https://t.co/z38JX1CxPO
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 30, 2023
In a shocking turn, the House on Saturday took an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote to avert a shutdown at midnight on Sunday — with the majority of Democrats bailing out the GOP.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy passed the 45-day stopgap funding patch, 335-91, with help from more than 200 Democrats and 90 Republicans voting no. It's an unexpected move that is certain to accelerate a far-right rebellion aimed at taking his gavel. The bill now goes to the Senate, where it is likely to pass just before the shutdown deadline.
McCarthy's abrupt shift in strategy came after weeks of unwillingness to take any route that pits him against a handful of conservative hardliners who have refused to allow any bipartisan efforts to stave off a shutdown.
“There was an outcry from rank-and-file that want a [continuing resolution]. We’re tired of fucking around with these whack jobs. They voted against it yesterday, so let’s just put up a clean CR,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), among those who had repeatedly pushed for the speaker to ignore his right flank.
The vote capped a frenetic day in the House, where almost no lawmakers headed to the Capitol on Saturday morning had any hope for bipartisan dealmaking.
But McCarthy shocked his party — and most on the Hill — by deciding to put a "clean" bill on the floor that could be enough to doom his speakership. The short-term funding patch that passed includes none of the GOP’s spending cuts or border policies. The only addition: $16 billion for disaster aid sought by the White House.
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The only question now is whether Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) will support unanimous consent to accelerate voting on the House bill. The Kentucky Republican told Politico that the caucus leans that way. And he would offer his support if no new Ukraine money is in this clean CR.
Senate Dems to meet at 3:45 pm et
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
The House is now in recess until Monday.
House approved interim spending bill 335-91
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
House adjourns until Monday. Gaetz tried to get recognition but the House gaveled out. Gaetz has threatened a motion to vacate the chair if McCarthy teamed with Dems on a CR
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
Senate is running a "hotline" to get clearance to see if it can quickly pass the House-approved CR. Vote timing is unclear
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
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UPDATE: The odds are VERY high that the Senate will approve the House bill.
2) But the hotline to get clearance to call up the bill is still running. The Senate must get unanimous consent to vitiate the old CR which was teed up for a vote later tonight to end a filibuster
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
From colleague Brianna O'Neil. Dem CT Sen Blumenthal says no Dem senators said they were going to vote against interim spending bill to avoid a shutdown
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
🚨#BREAKING: Senator Murphy says the Senate will approve the House Stop gab bill
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) September 30, 2023
UPDATE II: Or not?
This is true, per two sources, and senators are getting mad behind the scenes. Bennet is livid about Ukraine funding being left out, it’s also only deal on table right now https://t.co/MpEKgRBkaU
— Burgess Everett (asapburgessev on 🧵) (@burgessev) September 30, 2023
UPDATE III: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) feels everything will be worked out before midnight.
Dem CO Sen Bennet is objecting to fast tracking interim spending bill over lack of Ukraine aid. GOP ME Sen Collins on if this will be resolved soon: I do, I think it'll be resolved before midnight in order to avoid a shutdown.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) September 30, 2023
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