The Senate couldn’t pass a continuing resolution that had already been approved by the House, aimed at funding the federal government and preventing a shutdown. Most Senate Democrats opposed the bill because of policy differences, although one Democrat broke ranks to support it.
After the House passed the spending bill with a close 217-212 vote, the Senate rejected it with a tally of 44-48.
Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Rand Paul from Kentucky were among those who voted against it, while John Fetterman from Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to back the resolution.
Murkowski, in a statement on Saturday, outlined conditions needed for her future support of the measure.
On Friday night, the Senate also turned down a separate Democratic funding proposal that included additional health care provisions, with a vote of 47-45.
Senate Minority Leader John Thune remarked that Democrats have a choice: they can either support the bipartisan funding measure or risk edging closer to a shutdown with their own proposal.
To pass the continuing resolution, at least seven Democrats would need to align with the Republican vote.
Congress is set to return in late September, and if lawmakers can’t finalize funding by October 1st, the government could face a shutdown.
