Senate passes massive $854 billion spending bill with no funding for Trump’s ‘wall’
There will be no government shutdown, or even talk of one headed into the midterm elections.
The Senate, by a 93-7 vote, passed an $854 billion spending bill, the bulk of the funding going to the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.
Six Republican senators — Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Mike Lee (Utah), Rand Paul (Ky.), David Perdue (Ga.), Ben Sasse (Neb.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.) — joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in voting against the bill.
Toomey said the legislation employed budget gimmicks that pushed spending even beyond the spending caps set earlier this year as part of a bipartisan budget deal signed by the White House.
“It’s a completely dishonest gimmick to spend $7 billion above the cap that was agreed upon, and it’s really irresponsible,” Toomey explained.
The legislation also includes a short-term stopgap bill to fund the remainder of the federal government through December 7, thus preventing a government shutdown that would otherwise begin on October 1.
Despite the massive outflow of funds, President Trump criticized the spending bill on Twitter:
“I want to know, where is the money for Border Security and the WALL in this ridiculous Spending Bill, and where will it come from after the Midterms? Dems are obstructing Law Enforcement and Border Security. REPUBLICANS MUST FINALLY GET TOUGH!”
Reuters reported that the White House has not yet said whether Trump would sign the measure, if it is also approved by the House, which will have to take up the legislation when it returns to session September 25.
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