House, Senate Plan for Final Votes Thursday to Avert Government Shutdown Through March 23
The House and Senate were moving toward final votes Thursday evening on continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 23, though a new bid by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to delay the Senate vote made the situation less…
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clear. A new CR would avert a government shutdown that would have begun at midnight Thursday without action from Capitol Hill. Congress passed the current CR funding the government after a three-day shutdown in January (see 1801220038 and 1801230037). Paul objected to elements of a deal struck by Senate leaders Wednesday that would raise federal spending limits. That deal included a carve-out of $20 billion for infrastructure projects, including rural broadband (see 1802070051). USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter praised inclusion of the infrastructure funding, saying it's “an important step forward to help bridge the digital divide and connect the hardest to reach areas.” Paul was seeking a “15-minute vote on his amendment to restore the budget caps,” a spokesman said. “He is ready to proceed at any time.” The House previously passed a version of the CR Tuesday, but the chamber would need to vote on the Senate-passed version of the measure. Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said Thursday he believed he had enough votes in the Republican caucus to clear a Senate version of the CR, but it also “depends on the Democrats.”