WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate handed a six-month spending invoice on Friday hours earlier than a authorities shutdown, overcoming sharp Democratic opposition to the measure and sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into legislation.
The vote was 54-46. Democrats voiced frustration that Republicans went forward with a measure they stated included little enter from them, and one they considered as shortchanging key priorities reminiscent of well being care and housing help. However in the long run, a few of them considered a shutdown as a worse consequence and supported Democratic chief Chuck Schumer’s effort to permit the invoice to come back to a remaining vote.
Democrats have been confronted with two painful choices: permitting passage of a invoice they imagine offers President Donald Trump huge discretion on spending choices or voting no and letting a funding lapse ensue.
Schumer gave members of his caucus days to vent their frustration in regards to the choices earlier than them, however abruptly switched course and made clear on the eve of voting that he won’t permit a authorities shutdown. His transfer outraged many within the social gathering who need to battle the Trump agenda, however gave senators room to facet with Republicans and permit the persevering with decision, usually described as a CR, to advance.
Democrats from all corners appeared to stress senators to kill the invoice. Home members wrote letters, posted on social media and held press conferences within the hours earlier than the vote.
“The American people sent Democrats to Congress to fight against Republican dysfunction and chaos,” stated a letter from 66 Home Democrats to Schumer.
Home Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries and his crew dashed again to the Capitol urging senators to dam the invoice and negotiate a real compromise with Republicans.
Some Democrats additionally argued that Republicans would take the blame for a shutdown, given they managed all of the levers of energy in Congress and the White Home.
“If you refuse to put forward an offer that includes any Democratic input and you don’t get Democratic votes, that’s on Republicans,” stated Sen. Patty Murray, the highest Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
In distinction, Schumer picked up one sudden nod of assist — from Trump himself, who only a day earlier was gearing as much as blame Democrats for any shutdown.
“Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took ‘guts’ and courage!” the president posted on his social media account.
Schumer has acknowledged the tough alternative he confronted, however insisted Democrats wouldn’t permit a authorities shutdown and warned of the havoc Trump and Musk may deliver if federal places of work shuttered.
“A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,” Schumer stated, referring to the Musk-led Division of Authorities Effectivity. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.”
Congress has been unable to move the annual appropriations payments designed to fund the federal government, in order that they’ve resorted to passing short-term extensions as an alternative. The laws earlier than the Senate is the third such persevering with decision for the present fiscal yr, now practically half over.
The laws would fund the federal authorities by the tip of September. It will trim non-defense spending by about $13 billion from the earlier yr and enhance protection spending by about $6 billion, that are marginal modifications when speaking a few topline spending stage of practically $1.7 trillion.
The Republican-led Home handed the spending invoice on Tuesday after which adjourned. The transfer left senators with a call to both take it or go away it. And whereas Democrats have been pushing for a vote on a fourth short-term extension, GOP management made clear that choice was a non-starter.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., and others made the case that any blame for a shutdown would fall squarely on Democrats.
“Democrats need to decide if they’re going to support funding legislation that came over from the House, or if they’re going to shut down the government,” Thune stated.
Progressive teams urged Democratic lawmakers to insist on the 30-day extension and oppose the spending invoice, saying enterprise as ordinary should not proceed.
“There’s still time,” stated Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico at a Home Democratic retreat in Leesburg, Virginia. “So, any of my colleagues in the Senate who are considering voting on cloture, the American people are shouting: Please do not hand the keys over to Elon Musk.”
However Schumer stated Trump would seize extra energy throughout a shutdown, as a result of it will give the administration the power to deem complete businesses, packages and personnel non-essential, furloughing workers with no promise they might ever be rehired.
Democrats have been crucial of the funding ranges within the invoice. However they’re extra frightened in regards to the discretion the invoice offers the Trump administration on spending choices. Many Democrats are referring to the measure as a “blank check” for Trump.
Spending payments sometimes include particular funding directives for key packages, however a whole lot of these directives fall away below the persevering with decision handed by the Home. So the administration may have extra leeway to resolve the place the cash goes.
For instance, a Democratic memo stated the invoice would permit the administration to steer cash away from combating fentanyl and as an alternative apply it to mass deportation initiatives.
Democrats additionally object to clawing again $20 billion in particular IRS funding, on prime of the $20 billion rescission authorized the yr earlier than by laws handed by Democrats throughout Joe Biden’s presidency.
The spending invoice earlier than the Senate is separate from the GOP effort to increase tax cuts for people handed in Trump’s first time period and to partially pay for them with spending cuts elsewhere in authorities.
That second bundle shall be developed within the months forward, nevertheless it was clearly a part of the political calculus.
“You’re looking at a one-two punch, a very bad CR, then a reconciliation bill coming down, which will be the final kick in the teeth for the American people,” stated Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., stated the Democratic arguments for voting towards the invoice have been hypocritical as a result of they have been primarily calling for shutting down the federal government to guard the federal government.
“Democrats are fighting to withhold the paychecks of air traffic controllers, our troops, federal custodial staff,” Cotton stated. “They can’t be serious.”
Senators additionally introduced they might be voting on a invoice to repair an sudden provision within the spending measure that hit the District of Columbia. The spending bundle successfully pressured the District to revert to prior yr’s funds ranges, requiring a reduce of some $1.1 billion over the months forward, regardless that the district raises most of its personal cash. Mayor Muriel Bowser objected and residents have been flooding senators’ places of work. The Senate invoice, which might subsequent go to the Home, would reverse that provision and permit the spending at 2025 ranges.
