POlitics: Sorry, But the Government is [Partially] Closed; Us Senates Rejects Spending Bill

-WSJ/NYT

The US Senate last night rejected a short-term spending bill to keep the federal government operating, less than two hours before funding was expected to run out and trigger a shutdown of many government services.

In a vote that required the approval of 60 senators to pass, the measure that would have kept offices open for one month was defeated. Lawmakers have no clear fallback plan, and aides said they were expecting the government to partially close on the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration.

The Senate adjourned for the night around 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

• The final roll call, was 50 in favor and 49 against. Sixty votes are needed to end debate and move to a final vote. Five Democrats voted to end debate, while four Republicans voted with most of the Democrats to block the bill.

• In the early morning hours, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, proposed a measure that would keep the government open for another three weeks, not four as the House measure would have done, and said the Senate would come back to into session on Saturday at noon.