On Friday, the GOP-led Senate cleared a significant procedural step to prevent a partial government shutdown, as a sufficient number of Democrats joined an embattled Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in voting to invoke cloture on a stopgap bill ahead of a midnight shutdown.
A three-fifths majority — or 60 votes — was needed to prevent a filibuster on the continuing resolution, which provides funds to various federal agencies and programs through September 30. The cloture vote ended up being 62-38, with nine Democrats and one independent joining with 52 Republicans to advance legislation. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the sole Republican to band with the rest of the Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in opposing the bill.
In order to proceed, the Senate reached a deal in which members will vote on a few amendments from Democrats, including one that aims to block the use of…
