After weeks of contentious discussions and the deadline looming, Congress overwhelmingly passed a funding bill on Wednesday to avert a government shutdown next week.
The Senate voted 78-18 Wednesday evening, shortly after the House passed the same measure on a 341-82 vote, with all opposition in both chambers coming from Republicans-- who had been forced to remove a proposal demanded by Donald Trump that would require Americans nationwide to show proof of citizenship to register to vote (the SAVE Act).
The new package negotiated by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and top Democrats will fund the government at current levels through December 20th, setting up another spending fight right before the holidays.
It also provides $231 million in additional money for the Secret Service, including for operations related to the presidential campaign, in the wake of two apparent attempts to assassinate Trump.
Johnson defied Trump's demands by allowing the vote in the first place, which drew harsh comments on a podcast from MAGA Mean Girl Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
“Mike Johnson is not our Speaker,” she raged on Steve Bannon’s "War Room" (minus Steve Bannon, who's still in prison). “He is the Speaker for the Democrats,” she continued. “I share the anger and frustration, and I don’t think Republicans deserve to be re-elected to hold the majority."
That makes millions of us, Marge.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), the Republican chair for House Appropriations, told The Independent that including the SAVE Act was "not feasible" and a government shutdown would be worse.