{"id":389030,"date":"2024-03-23T04:34:30","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T04:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/senate-strikes-deal-to-vote-on-1-2t-federal-spending-bill-but-misses-government-shutdown-deadline\/"},"modified":"2024-03-23T04:34:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-23T04:34:35","slug":"senate-strikes-deal-to-vote-on-1-2t-federal-spending-bill-but-misses-government-shutdown-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/senate-strikes-deal-to-vote-on-1-2t-federal-spending-bill-but-misses-government-shutdown-deadline\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate strikes deal to vote on $1.2T federal spending bill but misses government shutdown deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Senate struck a deal Friday night to bring a $1.2 trillion federal spending bill up for a vote \u2013 but not before missing a midnight deadline, triggering a partial government shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>While the spending package is expected to easily clear the upper chamber, Senators deadlocked for hours on whether to vote on amendments to the massive bill, which cleared the House of Representatives on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The House of Representatives voted on March 22 to approve a sprawling $1.2 trillion package to fund the government, provoking an angry response from the Senate to ensure the lights stay on past a midnight deadline.  <span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With minutes to go before the deadline, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that an agreement had been reached on a series of votes on amendments which, when concluded, would result in a final vote on the legislation early Saturday morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is good for the American people that we have reached a bipartisan agreement on funding the government tonight,\u201d Schumer said from the Senate floor.<\/p>\n<p>The impact to government operations will be limited as long as senators are able to pass the bill before Monday, the start of the work week.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Federal offices are closed for the weekend and many government agencies are fully funded because of the previous so-called \u201cminibus\u201d legislation that President Biden signed into law earlier this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Any amendments successfully added to the legislation would send the measure back to the House for approval \u2013 but the lower chamber adjourned for a two-week recess Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>Some Republicans were eager to force votes on amendments related to border security, immigration, Iran sanctions and the Laken Riley Act despite the fact that if any were to pass it would all but guarantee a prolonged shutdown.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that an agreement had been reached on a series of votes on amendments which, when concluded, would result in a final vote on the legislation early Saturday morning.\u00a0 <span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>GOP members argued that by refusing to vote on amendments, Democrats are the ones responsible for shutdown.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSenate Democrats are again threatening to shut the government down to avoid voting on border security amendments,\u201d Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) wrote on X, before the midnight deadline. \u201cThe question to ask them: Would they rather shut down the government than shut down charter flights for illegal immigrants into American cities?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Tennessee Republican also suggested that vulnerable Senate Democrats up for re-election were \u201cafraid\u201d of having their amendment votes go on the record.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>John Fetterman (D-PA) reacts to a question from members of the media on March 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cDemocrat Senators are afraid to take a position on Biden\u2019s failed policies by voting on amendments to the appropriations bill,\u201d Hagerty argued. \u201cThey\u2019d rather shut down the government than take a position on President Biden\u2019s failures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) blamed Republicans.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, it looks like we\u2019re headed for a shutdown at the hands of Senate Republican gremlins who (1) know that amendments can\u2019t pass because there\u2019s no House to send an amended bill back to (they adjourned) and (2) want amendments anyway. And (3) can\u2019t decide amongst themselves what won\u2019t-pass amendments they want,\u201d the Rhode Island Democrat tweeted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI sure hope I\u2019m wrong.\u00a0 But the Republican Senate caucus is a rudderless ship right now, so the gremlins are running the show,\u201d Whitehouse added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) blamed Republicans for the partial shutdown. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who\u2019s up for re-election, indicated that he was not opposed to voting on amendments despite the political risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s opportunities here to separate myself from some people,\u201d Tester told reporters. \u201c[Republicans are] the ones that killed the best immigration bill we\u2019ve ever had on the floor of the Senate. The same Republicans \u2026 killed it. They better look in the mirror if they want to do something about immigration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), however, told reporters that Tester was privately telling members that he doesn\u2019t want to vote on amendments.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s bullshit,\u201d Tester <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sahilkapur\/status\/1771304452781154406\" target=\"_blank\">said of the accusation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) speaks with members of the media on March 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Further complicating the Senate proceedings was the funeral for the mother of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), which is slated for Saturday and some senators wished to attend, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/scottwongDC\/status\/1770463891962871886\" target=\"_blank\">according to NBC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Collins, elected to the Senate in 1996, has never missed a vote.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The spending bill addresses funding for the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State and the legislative branch.<\/p>\n<p>The lower chamber voted 286-134 to approve the 1,012-page bill, which funds those departments and entities until Sept. 30.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is followed by reporters after speaking outside the capital building before the vote on March 22. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>GOP proponents of the package pointed to a $200 billion cut in federal spending over the next 10 years \u2014 including a $6 billion clawback of unused COVID-19 relief funds.<\/p>\n<p>Defense spending will see a $27 billion increase, including a 5.2% pay bump for US service members.<\/p>\n<p>The package also includes $3.3 billion in continued funding for Israel and $300 million in Pentagon funding to aid Ukraine\u2019s war effort.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>House GOP leadership further celebrated cuts to funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency, a Palestinian refugee aid group that had employees participate in the Oct. 7 terror attack against Israel, as well as for federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats approved of having rejected \u201cright-wing\u201d add-ons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs far as I could tell, the overwhelming majority of right-wing policy riders have been rejected and are not part of the spending agreement, including in critical areas,\u201d House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said at a Thursday press conference.<\/p>\n<p>Congress passed an earlier six-bill, $467.5 billion \u201cminibus\u201d on March 8 which funded the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, Commerce, Justice and Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Food and Drug Administration and military construction.<\/p>\n<p>When the second component passes, it will complete a topline $1.66 trillion spending agreement that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reached in January, comprised of $886 billion in defense funding and $704 billion in non-defense discretionary funding.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/>Read the full article <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/03\/23\/us-news\/senate-strikes-deal-to-vote-on-1-2t-federal-spending-bill-but-misses-government-shutdown-deadline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Senate struck a deal Friday night to bring a $1.2 trillion federal spending bill up for a vote \u2013 but not before missing a midnight deadline, triggering a partial &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/senate-strikes-deal-to-vote-on-1-2t-federal-spending-bill-but-misses-government-shutdown-deadline\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":389031,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[674,6145,3909,1598,1052,4547,1090,9247],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389030"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=389030"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":389032,"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/389030\/revisions\/389032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/389031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=389030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=389030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mamardi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=389030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}