Senate vote may prevent a shutdown
WASHINGTON — Congress was poised to avert a government shutdown after the Senate approved a stopgap spending bill Wednesday, following a tentative deal on emergency funds for victims of the water crisis in Flint, Mich.
Final votes in the House were expected late Wednesday evening before funds for the government expire Friday.
“Is it perfect? No. Is it acceptable? Yes. Is it necessary? Absolutely,” said Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. “I look forward to keeping our government open.”
The funding bill is among the last items of business before Congress recesses for the November election.
The temporary measure, which includes more than $1 billion to fight the Zika virus, would extend government funding until Dec. 9. It pushes the next spending battle to the lame-duck session of Congress after the presidential election.
Overall funding levels already had been agreed to under previous budget deals, but the holdup had been money for Flint, Mich., where lead contamination has made the tap water undrinkable.
Democrats wanted to include the Flint aid, especially after Republicans tucked in money for f looding victims in Louisiana. But Republicans balked, wanting Flint to be handled separately.
Late Tuesday, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (RWis.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) struck a deal to include $170 million in emergency funds for Flint in a separate water-resources bill. It passed the House on Wednesday.
“We have a path forward to getting our work done,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Wednesday.
The Senate had already approved money for Flint, including $100 million for infrastructure repairs and other funds, in its own water bill. The two versions will need to be reconciled during the lame-duck session after the November election.
“I’m convinced there’s going to be help for Flint in the lame duck,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
Congress has routinely pushed its funding deadlines to the brink amid partisan disputes over money matters, but few lawmakers wanted a repeat of the 2013 government shutdown so close to the fall election.
Lawmakers edged toward a stalemate at the start of the week, and an earlier effort to pass the funding bill failed amid partisan disagreements over the emergency aid.
Other provisions also complicated passage, but were ultimately sidelined as congressional leaders pushed for resolution.
A longstanding “dark money” provision that keeps publicly traded companies from having to disclose donations to campaign-related groups remained intact with backing from McConnell.