US Senate approves spending bill to keep gov't open

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON

The Senate on Wednesday passed a spending bill needed to keep the federal government open beyond the fiscal year which ends midnight Friday.

Lawmakers voted 77-21 to approve the bill that would fund the government through Dec. 9 after Republican and Democrats agreed to help with a lead-tainted water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Democrats, along with 13 Republicans and two Independents, blocked the bill Tuesday, citing Republican leaders’ failure to address the water crisis that unfolded last year after the predominantly black populated city’s drinking water was found to contain lead.

Lawmakers reportedly agreed to address the water crisis after the presidential elections in November. Democrats were demanding $220 million in the bill for Flint.

The stopgap bill includes $1.1 billion to fight the Zika virus and $500 million for flood relief in Louisiana and several other states.

Without a stopgap bill many federal agencies would run out of operating funds by midnight Friday and would be forced to shut down.

The government was closed for 16 days in 2013 after the Democrat-led Congress failed to pass a similar measure.

The House is expected to approve the bill and send it to President Barack Obama for signature.