Senate moves spending resolution forward

The Senate made progress Wednesday on the six-month spending resolution to keep the government funded.

The Senate voted 76-22 to end debate on a motion to proceed to H.J.Res. 117, which would keep the government funded through March. The House passed the same resolution last week.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said it was a “shame” that he had to even file a cloture motion on the continuing resolution that both parties have agreed to.

The resolution puts the government on pace to spend $1.047 trillion in discretionary spending in 2013, the same level agreed to in last year's Budget Control Act.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is filibustering the Senate, which requires that the maximum amount of time be spent on each vote, holding up legislation such as the spending resolution, until he gets a vote on his own bill.

Paul wants a Senate vote on his bill to end all foreign aid to Pakistan and other Middle Eastern countries until they “start acting like real allies.” Reid has continued to deny such a vote.

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