Senate takes first step on late government funding bills

Axios

5 days ago

The Senate took a bipartisan step forward Tuesday on the first of its annual appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year — as the deadline to avoid a government shutdown comes into view.
Why it matters: It's an early sign that some Democrats are still willing to work across the aisle to avoid a shutdown, at least for now.
The early procedural vote was 90-8.
Seven Senate democrats voted against opening debate: Ed Markey (Mass.), Alex Padilla (Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Adam Schiff (Calif.), Bernie Sanders (Vt.), Chris Murphy (Conn.) and Peter Welch (Vt.) — along with Republican Mike Lee (Utah).
The bill provides funding for military construction and Veterans Affairs. Republican leaders have indicated they want to attach it to packages that fund agriculture programs, food safety, as well as the Commerce and Justice departments.
What to watch: Democrats decided Tuesday to support moving forward with the measure, with the party's leaders noting that it reverses much of DOGE's cuts to programs that enjoy broad, bipartisan support.
But they are keeping their powder dry on future appropriations bills and a solution to averting a shutdown at the end of September.
Democratic leaders have warned Republicans that seeking more rescissions packages like the one Congress sent to President Trump last week would threaten Democratic support for government funding.
Trump's budget chief Russell Vought has thrown gasoline on the fire, not only hinting at more rescissions packages, but also saying the appropriations process should be "less bipartisan."
The big picture: Congress is far behind schedule for passing all of the appropriations bill before the Oct. 1 deadline, likely necessitating another stopgap spending measure to avoid a shutdown.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has agreed to four appropriations bills so far, all with bipartisan support.
In the House, two appropriations — funding defense, military construction and Veterans Affairs — have passed along party lines.
Congress has increasingly relied on short-term spending measures called continuing resolutions — which keep spending levels flat from the previous year — to avoid a shutdowns.