Senate passes $1.7 trillion omnibus despite criticism of spending plan

 The U.S. Senate passed a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill Thursday aiming to avoid a government shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. The bill's passage comes after a chaotic week that included an address to Congress from the Ukrainian President, rush of opposition from some Republicans, and looming winter storms that could leave travelers stranded around the Christmas holiday

The Omnibus Bill

• 68-29 vote in the Senate to fund the government through September
• Now heads to the House, where Republicans have been vocally opposed but likely lack the votes to stop the legislation
• Some Republicans opposed have been pushing for a temporary funding measure that would keep the government on schedule until the new Congress takes over in the new year

Mike Lee rallied support for an amendment continuing Title 42, a public health authority that allows border agents to expedite expulsion of illegal immigrants in the name of preventing the spread of COVID

• Sen. Lee said he had the votes but that Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called a recess and peeled away the votes he needed.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/senate-passes-1-7-trillion-omnibus-despite-criticism-of-spending-plan/article_7b9a24d0-8242-11ed-a493-4bdd716b3957.html