In the Senate’s first big test on avoiding a government shutdown this October, Democrats offered Republicans a glimmer of hope on Tuesday.
The Senate voted 90-8 on a procedural motion to advance a military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill, with the overwhelming majority of Democrats joining all but one Republican (Sen. Mike Lee) in support of the legislation.
While the bill is the least controversial spending measure lawmakers typically consider every year, the vote was a significant step in the appropriations process. Republicans and Democrats have been fighting over government spending since before President Donald Trump even took office, and Democrats have expressed discomfort with the GOP’s overall spending levels and the lack of an agreement for the Trump administration not to go back on a funding deal via a future rescission bill.