House passes bill to fund the government through midterm elections - UPI.com

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., pushed through a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through December. Most Democrats opposed it. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

July 22 (UPI) -- House Republicans pushed through a spending bill that would fund the government through early December in an effort to avoid a shutdown just before the midterm elections.

The bill, which passed on Tuesday, is similar to what they would pass just before the Sept. 30 deadline. It passed 220-205 almost along party lines, though six Democrats in battleground districts voted for it, and one Republican voted against it.

"They've shown there's nothing they love more than a government shutdown, as tens of millions of Americans head to the polls in November," Speaker Mike Johnson. R-La., said at a press conference. "But this clean [continuing resolution] is an opportunity for both sides."

Representatives Kathy Castor, D-Fla; Henry Cuellar, D-Texas; Don Davis, D-N.C.; Jared Golden, D-Maine; Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas; and Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., voted with Republicans. One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted against it.