The Senate voted on Thursday to pass a stopgap government spending bill to keep the lights on. It now heads to the House ahead of a Friday deadline.
The 72-25 vote came after a rocky start to negotiations early in the week, although neither Democrats or Republicans looked fondly on a government shutdown just weeks ahead of the midterm elections. But a standoff that pitted Sen. Joe Manchin against progressives and Republicans over his energy permitting reform proposal – which would have made it easier for West Virginia’s Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline project to move forward – threatened to complicate the proceedings.
