© USA TODAY
(Washington, DC) — The House rejected the latest spending bill Thursday evening (Dec. 19, 2024), that would have averted a government shutdown. Almost 40 Republicans voted against the 116-page proposal, which was supported by President-elect Trump. Democrats voted mostly along party lines opposing the bill that included disaster relief money and funding for farmers. The bill fell 174-235, failing to earn even a majority of votes.
Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Republican leader, said they wouldn’t try to bring the bill back to the floor. On the opposite side of the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said, “It’s a good thing the bill failed in the House, now it’s time to go back to the bipartisan agreement we came to”.
The bill would have funded the government through March 14th. Without legislation, the government will shut down late Friday night.