The House of Representatives passed a temporary government funding bill on Tuesday, aiming to prevent a potential shutdown before the critical midterm elections. The bill, which passed with a mostly party-line vote of 220-205, will fund the federal government through December 4.

Avoiding Election Season Shutdown

House GOP leaders are taking proactive steps to avoid another possible shutdown, which could sour the mood of voters shortly before the elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson dared Democrats to vote against the bill, stating that if they did, they would be responsible for the chaos that ensues if the government shuts down after September 30.

Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga, expressed support for the bill, saying it’s smart to take the potential chaos of a shutdown off the table, as it can cause significant damage to American citizens. He also believed that a shutdown would work to the advantage of Democrats politically and blamed the press for such a scenario.

Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the stopgap measure, which would generally fund agencies at current spending levels. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, criticized the legislation, stating that it was dropped on Democrats without any bipartisan negotiations.

Some conservative Republican lawmakers were in favor of the bill, with Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo, saying it’s the best way to spend the least amount of money by keeping spending levels static for a period of time.

The Senate’s response to the bill is uncertain, as spending bills require support from 60 senators to advance to a final vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D, stated that Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins is working with Democrats to find a path forward.

Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.