Update (1831ET): The Senate passed the House Republican-drafted bill on Friday to fund the government through September, avoiding a government shutdown just hours before a midnight deadline.
The final vote of 54-46 – which did not require 60 votes (only the previous Cloture vote did), was mostly along party lines – with two members of the Democratic caucus voting for the bill; Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – who is retiring at the end of her term, and Angus King (Maine). Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), as expected, voted no.
The bill will now move to President Donald Trump’s desk, who will have to sign it before midnight to avert a shutdown. Assuming that’s the case (and we do assume that), we get to do this all over again in September. Joy of joys!
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Update (1700ET): After a dramatic game of chicken and House Democrats freaking out over Chuck Schumer’s ‘betrayal,’ the Senate has enough votes to advance the GOP-crafted government funding bill past the 60-vote procedural threshold to advance to a final vote (aka the ‘pre-vote’ or ‘test-vote’ before the big-boy vote).
With Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voting no, at least eight Democrats needed to join the other 52 Republicans in addition to Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Those who joined R’s included; Durbin, King, Schatz, Cortez Masto, Hassan, Peters, Gillibrand and Fetterman… The vote is ongoing.
Now – we wait for the big vote, after which the Senate will call it a night and go on vacation for a week unless for some reason enough Republicans suddenly vote ‘no’ and we’re back in disarray.
That picture looks like a “Before and After” picture.
Yep! Before the election and after the election.