When will the Senate vote on the spending bill? Will it need Democratic support?
WASHINGTON - The House passed a spending bill on Tuesday that would temporarily fund the government until Sept. 30 − taking the first step to avoid another government shutdown.
Now, it’s up to the Senate to pass the bill and get it to President Donald Trump’s desk before the 11:59 p.m. deadline on Friday.
The Senate will likely vote on final passage of the bill Friday.
Before that, Republicans will need to advance the bill in a separate vote, which will require Democratic support.
Here’s where things stand in the Senate:
GOP needs Dems to avoid government shutdown
At least eight Senate Democrats would need to join Republicans to clear a 60-vote threshold and advance the bill to the floor for a final vote.
Though Republicans have a 53-seat majority in the upper chamber, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he was a firm no on the bill.
Senate Democrats have criticized the spending bill, also known as a continuing resolution. After a lengthy lunch meeting Wednesday with members of his party, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said there are not enough Democrats willing to support the current funding measure.
Instead, he said, Senate Democrats are "unified" on a funding extension through April 11 that would allow Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation.
"We should vote on that," he said. "I hope our Republican colleagues will join us to avoid a shutdown on Friday."
“This is a shutdown bill that’s bad for the economy − let Trump shut down whatever he wants, hurting everyday folks to use money for tax breaks for the uber-rich. Hell no!” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., wrote on X, formerly Twitter, before the House vote.
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., called the bill a “dumpster fire” on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
“Make no mistake: The entire bill the House is voting on today is House Republicans’ own doing - and it is a dumpster fire. So, I am here to sound the alarm about that fire before it spreads,” she said.
However, it is unclear whether they will stick with their positions or end up backing the bill once votes roll around.
Republicans say it's up to Schumer to avert shutdown
Schumer said last week that Republicans hadn't attempted to negotiate with them on the plan yet and that "the only solution is a bipartisan solution."
But after the spending bill passed the House, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters it will be up to Schumer to get the bill across the finish line in the Senate.
“He is the leader of the Democrats on that side, and he must determine whether he wants to fund the government, do the responsible thing, or whether he wants to shut the government down,” Johnson said, according to NPR.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., wrote on X that “the ball is in Chuck Schumer’s court.”
Contributing: Riley Beggin