House Passes Short-Term Bill to Avert Government Shutdown Until After the Election

The House of Representatives voted to approve a bipartisan bill to avert a government shutdown until at least December, The New York Times reports.

The House voted 359 to 57 to pass the measure with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voting present.

The bill passed after congressional leaders were unable to reach a deal on a full package of spending bills to keep the government funded for the next year.

The bill passed on Tuesday will keep the government funded until December 11.

The bill would still have to be approved by the Republican-led Senate and signed by President Donald Trump, though Pelosi said the deal was reached with the White House.

Deal includes help for farmers, food stamps:

The bill was held up over President Donald Trump’s insistence to include tens of billions to extend the borrowing limit of the Commodity Credit Corporation, which distributes loans to farmers. Democrats worried that Trump was trying to use federal dollars to shore up support among a key constituency but moderate Democrats also pushed Pelosi to add the funding.

Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin ultimately reached a deal that would include the funding but include a provision barring the money from going to fossil fuel importers and refiners.

The deal also includes $8 billion in nutrition assistance for children and families.

Deal sets up post-election fight:

The scope of the deal means that Congress will have to vote on another crucial funding bill by December, during the lame-duck session after the election.

Democrats pushed to extend the funding until February, when the new Congress would be installed, but Republicans balked.

Some members of both parties called for Congress to remain in session until it also approves another round of coronavirus relief.

“It has been suggested by some that members of Congress are anxious to return to their districts to campaign in advance of the Nov. 3 election, even if that means leaving Capitol Hill without passing another Covid-19 relief bill,” the bipartisan group of lamakers said. “We want to be very clear that we do not in any way agree with this position.”

 

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