Congress at Impasse Over U.S. Spending Amid Shutdown Threat
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Congress is at an impasse over a federal spending bill amid a partisan dispute on funding for disaster assistance, escalating a fight that threatens a shutdown of government operations by month’s end.
The Senate yesterday rejected, 59-36, a House-passed stopgap measure to fund the government until Nov. 18 and provide $3.65 billion in aid to victims of Hurricane Irene, tornadoes, flooding and other natural disasters. Senate Democratic leaders opposed the House bill’s $1.6 billion in spending cuts to offset the disaster aid and said it didn’t provide enough money to help affected communities.