WASHINGTON (AA) – After sixteen days of a government shutdown, and with just a day before the US risked defaulting on its debt, the US Congress voted Wednesday night to end Washington’s gridlock.
In an 81 to 18 vote, the Senate passed a bill to reopen the government and increase America’s debt limit. The House of Representatives followed shortly thereafter, passing a motion to concur with the Senate bill 285 to 144.
The US government will now be open and funded through January 15, while the US Treasury will be able to pay off America’s debt through February 7.
Most House Republicans refuse Speaker’s lead
Speaking to conservative radio host Bill Cunningham, Speaker of the House John Boehner remarked, “We fought the good fight, we just didn’t win.”
Boehner had asked fellow House Republicans to vote for the bill earlier Wednesday to avert the potential economic disaster of debt default, and to end the government shutdown.
The Speaker was forced to rely upon every House Democrat to get the bill through the House, however, as only 87 of 232 House Republicans voted for the bill.
And indeed, despite a minor concession to add an income verification component to the Affordable Care Act, Republicans largely came away without much to take back to their constituents.
Prior to the shutdown, Republicans had attempted to extract concessions on Obama’s signature healthcare overhaul using the threat of shutdown. That threat became all too real when the government partially shutdown sixteen days ago
The financial ratings company Standard & Poor’s said the shuttering of the US government costed the American people at least $24 billion.
Obama signs off on Congressional bill
Shortly after the Senate vote, US President Barack Obama said, “I will sign it immediately. We'll begin re-opening our government immediately. And we can begin to lift this cloud of uncertainty and unease from our businesses and from the American people.”
He did just that early Thursday morning at the White House.
Following the passage of the Congressional bill, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Sylvia Burwell, advised federal employees to prepare for work Thursday morning.
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