WASHINGTON: The US Senate rejected stopgap legislation to fund government operations on Tuesday, sending lawmakers scrambling to stave off a shutdown at week’s end in the heat of the presidential campaign.
The temporary spending bill fell 45-55, well short of the 60 votes needed to advance in the chamber.
The fiscal year ends on September 30. Should Congress fail to pass a bill approving federal spending — or in this case, extending existing spending levels until December 9 — by midnight Friday, some government offices and operations could shutter.
The budget debate revolves around disputes over how to fund the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where thousands of residents are grappling with lead-contaminated water.
Several Democrats voted against the government funding bill apparently because they objected to its provision of money for Louisiana emergency flood relief without providing any infrastructure funding for Flint.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, hinted that leaders could refile the bill with the Louisiana aid stripped out reportedly as early as late Tuesday.
