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| Senators avert government shutdown, pass temporary spending measure | Senators avert government shutdown, pass temporary spending measure |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Senate convened for a rare Saturday session after a bloc of conservative senators upended plans to quickly pass a $1.1 trillion spending bill. | The Senate convened for a rare Saturday session after a bloc of conservative senators upended plans to quickly pass a $1.1 trillion spending bill. |
| But a backstop measure to extend current government funding until Wednesday was approved Saturday afternoon, averting a potential government shutdown that would have started at midnight. | But a backstop measure to extend current government funding until Wednesday was approved Saturday afternoon, averting a potential government shutdown that would have started at midnight. |
| The spending measure is expected to be approved with bipartisan support, but disagreement over how to proceed means that the first procedural vote on the bill won’t be until after midnight tonight. Final passage of the bill is scheduled for early Monday morning. | |
| In the meantime, “we wait,” Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said as he convened the chamber at midday. | In the meantime, “we wait,” Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said as he convened the chamber at midday. |
| The impasse infuriated members of both parties and was especially aggravating for senators set to leave office, either by retirement or because they lost reelection. | The impasse infuriated members of both parties and was especially aggravating for senators set to leave office, either by retirement or because they lost reelection. |
| “I think everybody’s frustrated,” said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who is retiring after six terms. | “I think everybody’s frustrated,” said Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who is retiring after six terms. |
| With a vote on the spending bill still hours away, senators spent Saturday afternoon holding dozens of procedural votes to begin the process of confirming dozens of President Obama’s nominations for federal judgeships, plus Tony Blinken to be a deputy secretary of state, Vivek Murthy to be the next U.S. surgeon general, Sarah Saldana to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Carolyn Colvin to be Commissioner of Social Security. | With a vote on the spending bill still hours away, senators spent Saturday afternoon holding dozens of procedural votes to begin the process of confirming dozens of President Obama’s nominations for federal judgeships, plus Tony Blinken to be a deputy secretary of state, Vivek Murthy to be the next U.S. surgeon general, Sarah Saldana to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Carolyn Colvin to be Commissioner of Social Security. |
| The rare stretch of confirmation votes — especially on a weekend — came as Democrats and Republicans continued tussling over Obama’s judicial nominees, whose chances at confirmation decrease dramatically next month when Republicans take control of the Senate. | The rare stretch of confirmation votes — especially on a weekend — came as Democrats and Republicans continued tussling over Obama’s judicial nominees, whose chances at confirmation decrease dramatically next month when Republicans take control of the Senate. |
| Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who is set to succeed Reid as the majority leader in the next Congress, suggested Friday night that his side was willing to speed the entire process along, including passage of a terrorism insurance bill and extending a collection of expired tax breaks. | Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who is set to succeed Reid as the majority leader in the next Congress, suggested Friday night that his side was willing to speed the entire process along, including passage of a terrorism insurance bill and extending a collection of expired tax breaks. |
| But Republicans were not willing to let the nominees easily pass, so Reid opted to use the time before votes on the spending bill on Saturday to clear procedural hurdles and confirm the nominees. | But Republicans were not willing to let the nominees easily pass, so Reid opted to use the time before votes on the spending bill on Saturday to clear procedural hurdles and confirm the nominees. |
| While mostly liberal resistance had kept the bill’s fate in doubt in the House, conservative opposition in the Senate is now the focal point. On the right, the resistance was led by those who wanted to use the bill to confront Obama on his executive actions on immigration. | While mostly liberal resistance had kept the bill’s fate in doubt in the House, conservative opposition in the Senate is now the focal point. On the right, the resistance was led by those who wanted to use the bill to confront Obama on his executive actions on immigration. |
| “I think it is critical for the Senate to have an opportunity to have a clear up or down vote on funding President Obama’s illegal executive amnesty. I am using every tool available to help bring about that vote,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). | “I think it is critical for the Senate to have an opportunity to have a clear up or down vote on funding President Obama’s illegal executive amnesty. I am using every tool available to help bring about that vote,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). |
| After giving a speech to a near empty chamber on Friday, Cruz and several conservative allies blocked Reid’s effort to give the Senate the weekend off and return Monday, producing an angry exchange with the majority leader. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a Cruz confidant, took to the Senate floor to try to slow Reid’s plans and force a vote on an immigration amendment that he, Cruz and others are pushing. | After giving a speech to a near empty chamber on Friday, Cruz and several conservative allies blocked Reid’s effort to give the Senate the weekend off and return Monday, producing an angry exchange with the majority leader. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a Cruz confidant, took to the Senate floor to try to slow Reid’s plans and force a vote on an immigration amendment that he, Cruz and others are pushing. |
| A near-defeat of the spending measure in the House sharpened focus in the Senate on the odd-bedfellows political coalition that almost torpedoed the bill. | A near-defeat of the spending measure in the House sharpened focus in the Senate on the odd-bedfellows political coalition that almost torpedoed the bill. |
| Liberals anger has centered on a provision that would loosen a key regulation on big banks. The populist anti-Wall Street faction was led by freshman Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). | Liberals anger has centered on a provision that would loosen a key regulation on big banks. The populist anti-Wall Street faction was led by freshman Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). |
| “Enough is enough,” she said on the Senate floor Friday. “Washington already works really well for the billionaires and big corporations.” | “Enough is enough,” she said on the Senate floor Friday. “Washington already works really well for the billionaires and big corporations.” |
| In a random twist, the measure’s two most outspoken opponents met on the Senate floor late Friday. Cruz blasted the bill in a speech as Warren presided over the chamber in her role as the designated Senate president, a duty reserved for the most junior senators. | In a random twist, the measure’s two most outspoken opponents met on the Senate floor late Friday. Cruz blasted the bill in a speech as Warren presided over the chamber in her role as the designated Senate president, a duty reserved for the most junior senators. |
| But it was Cruz and Lee’s fight that seized the attention Friday, overshadowing Warren’s protests. | But it was Cruz and Lee’s fight that seized the attention Friday, overshadowing Warren’s protests. |
| While opponents of the bill were clinging to slim hopes that they could derail the legislation, they stopped short of pledging to block it altogether. | While opponents of the bill were clinging to slim hopes that they could derail the legislation, they stopped short of pledging to block it altogether. |
| Whenever the spending bill passes, it will fund most of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year next September. The one exception is the Department of Homeland Security, which would be funded by the spending bill only through late winter amid the fight over Obama’s decision to halt the deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants. The department oversees government operations involving immigration, including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service. | Whenever the spending bill passes, it will fund most of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year next September. The one exception is the Department of Homeland Security, which would be funded by the spending bill only through late winter amid the fight over Obama’s decision to halt the deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants. The department oversees government operations involving immigration, including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service. |
| Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), another critic of the immigration action, conceded Friday that strong GOP support for the spending bill in the House on Thursday night makes it less likely for his perspective to prevail. “I adhere to the view that Congress should not fund a program that we think is unworthy and unlawful, but that’s been decided by the House,” he said. | Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), another critic of the immigration action, conceded Friday that strong GOP support for the spending bill in the House on Thursday night makes it less likely for his perspective to prevail. “I adhere to the view that Congress should not fund a program that we think is unworthy and unlawful, but that’s been decided by the House,” he said. |
| Warren sparked a Democratic revolt in the House this week by speaking out against the legislation. She teamed up with Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on Friday to try to fight the banking provision. The two introduced an amendment to remove the language from the bill that loosens the restrictions on banks when it comes to risky derivative transactions. | Warren sparked a Democratic revolt in the House this week by speaking out against the legislation. She teamed up with Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on Friday to try to fight the banking provision. The two introduced an amendment to remove the language from the bill that loosens the restrictions on banks when it comes to risky derivative transactions. |
| Even as the Senate focused in on a spending bill vote, it still had other business to complete, including votes on judicial nominations, a terrorism insurance bill and extending a collection of tax breaks. | Even as the Senate focused in on a spending bill vote, it still had other business to complete, including votes on judicial nominations, a terrorism insurance bill and extending a collection of tax breaks. |
| Speaking on the Senate floor after Warren on Friday evening, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) warned opponents of the bill against blowing it up. | Speaking on the Senate floor after Warren on Friday evening, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) warned opponents of the bill against blowing it up. |
| Graham pledged to vote for the bill, even as he acknowledged “knowing it’s not perfect.” | Graham pledged to vote for the bill, even as he acknowledged “knowing it’s not perfect.” |
| One lawmaker who appeared to be tiring of all the extended talks was Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). | One lawmaker who appeared to be tiring of all the extended talks was Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). |
| “It’s ridiculous,” he told reporters outside the Senate chamber. “A lame-duck session after the American people have spoken.” | “It’s ridiculous,” he told reporters outside the Senate chamber. “A lame-duck session after the American people have spoken.” |
| Sean Sullivan and Paul Kane contributed to this report. | Sean Sullivan and Paul Kane contributed to this report. |