Reid files cloture on second stopgap bill

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has filed cloture on a bill to fund the government for three weeks after March 18.

The bill would slash $6 billion in government spending.

The House approved the same spending resolution by a 271-158 vote Tuesday afternoon despite opposition from a group of conservative lawmakers who called for deeper cuts and the inclusion of social policy riders.

Unless a unanimous consent agreement is reached, the stopgap bill will percolate in the Senate for about 30 hours before further action can be taken.