Senate Democrats Face Pressure to Prevent Government Shutdown

The House passed a stop-gap spending bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown, with a vote of 217 to 213, but faced opposition from 212 House Democrats who warned against the potential chaos of a government closure. House Republicans criticized Democrats for their dissent, accusing them of irresponsibility and hypocrisy, while emphasizing the importance of the continuing resolution (CR) to avoid furloughing federal workers. Senate Republicans are now pressuring Senate Democrats to support the CR, which would fund the government through September 30, despite some Democratic leaders expressing reluctance due to the bill's provisions. The CR includes a $13 billion cut in non-defense spending and a $6 billion increase in defense spending, which has drawn mixed reactions from both parties. Additionally, Democrats have voiced concerns about being unfairly blamed for a potential shutdown, given that Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House. The situation remains tense as both parties prepare for further negotiations in the Senate.