Stopgap funding bill passes easily, averting shutdown

In a sweeping WASHINGTON— bipartisanvote that takes a government shutdown offff the table, theHousepasseda temporarygovernment-wide funding bill Tuesday night, shortlyafterPresidentDonald Trumpprevailedinabehindthehis farm bailout.

The stopgapmeasurewill keepfederal agencies fullyup and running into December, giving lame-duck lawmakers timetodigesttheelectionand decide whether to pass the annual government funding bills by then or kick themto the next administration. The budget year ends Sept. 30.

The 359-57 vote cameafter considerable behind-thescenesbattlingoverproposed add-ons. Thefifinal agreement gives the administrationcontinued immediate authority to dole out Agriculture Department subsidies in the run-uptoElectionDay. House SpeakerNancy Pelosi, D-Calif., retreated from an initial draftthatsparkedafurorwith Republicans and farm-state Democrats, whosaidshewas interfering with the routine implementation of the rural safety net as lowcrop prices andTrump’sowntariffffffffffffs slam farm country.

“It’s a big deal. This is cash flflow to mom and pop businesses all over rural America,” saidTexasRep. Michael Conaway, topRepublican on theHouse Agriculture Committee.“Theyget themevery year in October. They come like clockwork.”

In talks Tuesday, Pelosi restored a farm aid funding patch sought by the administration, which has sparked the ireofDemocratswhosaid it plays political favorites as it gives out bailoutmoney to farmers and ranchers.

In return, Pelosi won COVID-related food aid for the poor, including an extension of a higher food benefifit for families whose children are unable to receive free or reduced lunches because schools are closed over the coronavirus. Another add-on wouldpermitstatestoremove hurdles to food stamps and nutrition aid to low-income mothers that are more diffifficult to clear during the pandemic. The deal permitted themeasuretospeedthrough theHouse after aswift debate that should ensure smooth sailing in the GOP-held Senate before nextWednesday’s deadline. There’s no appetite on either side for a government shutdown.

On Monday, Democrats releasedaversionof the stopgapmeasurethatdidnotcontain the farm bailout provision, enraging Republicans and putting passage of the measure indoubt. It became apparent that Pelosi did not have the votes to pass it — SenateMajorityLeaderMitch McConnell, R-Ky., dismissed it as a “rough draft” — and negotiations continued.

Democrats complain that theTrumpadministrationhas favored southern states such asGeorgia— a keyswing state andhomeofAgriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue — and larger producers in distributing bailout funds. Farmers are suffffffffffffering from lowcommodity prices andthe effffffffffffects of higher tariffffffffffffs imposed by Trump. Trumpannounced a new $13 billion allotment of bailout funding at a political rally in Wisconsin last week.

The administration’s handling of farm subsidies had angered Sen. Debbie StabenowofMichigan, the powerful topDemocratontheAgriculture Committee.