Senate averts shutdown, again -- The Hill

The Senate on Saturday passed a four-day government-funding bill, averting a shutdown that would have started at midnight. 

The upper chamber approved the short-term measure by voice vote at the end of a dramatic week. On Thursday, it passed a two-day extension with plans to pass a $1.1 trillion “cromnibus.”

But objections on both sides of the aisle halted progress and forced Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to file cloture on the motion to concur with the House-passed measure. That sets up a procedural vote on Sunday at 1 a.m., but the government was set to shutdown Saturday night, which is why the four-day extension was needed.

Final passage is scheduled for 7 a.m. on Monday, but the vote could come sooner if Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) lift their objections.  Read More