Senate passes bipartisan spending package as lawmakers eye shutdown deadline

By Erica Werner
September 12 at 7:37 PM

The Senate passed a bipartisan spending package Wednesday paying for veterans affairs, military construction and other programs for 2019 — a big step forward as congressional leaders maneuver to avoid a government shutdown at month’s end.

The vote was 92 to 5. The legislation is expected to pass the House on Thursday and then go to President Trump, who is expected to sign it.

The measure would mark the first batch of spending bills for 2019 to be signed into law, and comes with time running out for Congress to finalize all the must-pass bills before government funding expires Sept. 30.

It’s progress for lawmakers who are trying to avoid a repeat of what happened in March, when Trump threatened to veto a massive $1.3 trillion spending package for 2018 that arrived at his desk months late. Trump ultimately signed the “omnibus” bill but vowed never to sign another one like it.

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