Budget bill to avert government shutdown clears Senate hurdle (LA Times)

Budget bill to avert government shutdown clears Senate hurdle

By Michael A. MemoliThis post has been updated. See the note below for details.
September 27, 2013, 9:46 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Most Senate Republicans joined with the chamber's Democratic majority Friday to overcome a filibuster on a bill to keep the government running past Monday, turning back a persistent stand by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to use the vote to kill President Obama’s healthcare law.

Updated, 10:11 a.m. PDT Sept. 27: The Senate voted, 79-19, to move forward on the bill, clearing the required 60-vote hurdle. Twenty-five Republicans joined all the Democrats; 19 Republicans opposed the measure. Two Republicans did not cast votes.

The Senate is now expected to pass a Democratic amendment to strip a provision in the bill that cuts money for the Affordable Care Act. A simple majority is all that's required for that vote.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-senate-vote-government-shutdown-20130927,0,7144213.story