Senate Republicans failed to push through an amendment to its latest government funding bill that intended to prevent future government shutdowns, The Hill reported Wednesday.
The measure, proposed by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., would have established temporary funding during budget talks and prohibited lawmakers from working on any other legislation until a broader deal was completed.
The temporary funding would have been in line with previous funding levels.
Every Senate Republican but Rand Paul of Kentucky voted for the amendment, with Tim Scott of South Carolina absent.
All Senate Democrats voted against the amendment except Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Mark Kelly of Arizona, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Mark Warner of Virginia.
Independent lawmakers Angus King of Maine and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who caucus Democrat, also voted for the amendment. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., did not vote.
The final vote was 56-42-2, failing to reach the 60-vote threshold to pass.
Had it passed, the measure would have been added to the three-bill government spending package currently under deliberation to be included in the larger appropriations bill.
Also known as a "minibus," the package would provide funding for military construction, as well as the departments of veterans affairs, agriculture, transportation, and housing and urban development.
Senators passed 20 amendments through voice vote Wednesday for the minibus. It also adopted two others after a tally and shot down one other. More changes are expected before its final passage, likely next week.
Luca Cacciatore ✉
Luca Cacciatore, a Newsmax general assignment writer, is based in Arlington, Virginia, reporting on news and politics.
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