Senate Passes Interim CR Extending Budget 75 Days – DC Going Bananas That Ukraine Funding Not Included

The U.S. Senate passed the stop gap spending CR (Continuing Resolution) extending government funding for 75 days.  The Senate vote was 88-9.  Mike Lee, Bill Hagerty, Ted Cruz, JD Vance, Eric Schmitt, Rand Paul, Roger Marshall, Mike Braun, and Marcia Blackburn voted against the CR.  The CR ends November 17th.

There was no additional funding for Ukraine in the House or Senate bill.  DC is going bananas, claiming that everyone supports additional multi-billion expenditures for Ukraine, but during a Senate Republican meeting earlier today, even John Thune told Mitch McConnell the ask for more Ukraine funding was a bridge too far.

The bill will now go to Joe Biden for signature, and the temporary “govt shutdown” crisis is delayed.  There is a complete disconnect between the will of the American people, and the priorities of the DC Uniparty. Joe Biden responded to the bill, noting the importance of an additional funding mechanism for Ukraine.

“While the Speaker and the overwhelming majority of Congress have been steadfast in their support for Ukraine, there is no new funding in this agreement to continue that support. We cannot under any circumstances allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted. I fully expect the Speaker will keep his commitment to the people of Ukraine and secure passage of the support needed to help Ukraine at this critical moment.” (link)

Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, speaking on behalf of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, echoed a similar statement:

It’s been a day full of twists and turns, but the American people can breathe a sigh of relief. There will be no government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said shortly after passage.

The package is a departure from Senate leaders’ original ambitions to include Ukraine aid in the short-term funding bill. The final version of the bill — which overwhelmingly passed the House with bipartisan support Saturday afternoon — only includes disaster relief alongside regular government funding. Senate Democrats now say they’ll be seeking a supplemental bill to continue assisting Ukraine in its war against Russia.

“Most Senate Republicans remain committed to helping our friends on the front lines,” said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. (link)

The intensity of the DC system, both Republicans and Democrats alike, to pour money into Ukraine, despite the majority of the American people not in agreement with the priority, is unlike anything in modern times.