Senate Nearing Bipartisan Measure to Avert a Government Shutdown

Senate Republican and Democrat negotiators are nearing a deal on a short term spending measure intended to keep the government open after Oct. 1, according to a person familiar with the talks.

(Bloomberg) — Senate Republican and Democrat negotiators are nearing a deal on a short term spending measure intended to keep the government open after Oct. 1, according to a person familiar with the talks.

The legislation would extend funding for four to six weeks, the person said, asking not to be named discussing private negotiations. That’s a shorter time frame than the extension into December that Democrats originally wanted but could help get the bill through the House.

If the Senate can pass the stopgap bill and send it to the House, Speaker Kevin McCarthy will face a tough choice on whether to hold a vote.

It remains unclear whether the Senate bill will include emergency disaster aid or assistance to Ukraine for its continuing fight against Russia. These elements, sought by the White House, have not been embraced by some House Republicans, particularly the Ukraine package.

Senate negotiators worked through the weekend and plan to continue their efforts into Tuesday morning. The Senate plans to begin voting on a Federal Aviation Administration bill Tuesday and that bill could become the vehicle for the stopgap measure.

So far, McCarthy has been unable to muster enough Republican votes for a rival stopgap measure that would cut spending by 27% and change border policies, something that the White House and Senate Democrats would reject. If McCarthy puts the Senate bill up for a vote, conservatives have threatened to try to oust him.

(Updates with previous coverage.)

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