Senate Approves Spending Bill Late Friday, Averts Government Shutdown
By Space Coast Daily // December 10, 2016
vote was 63-36, bill sent to president by midnight
ABOVE VIDEO: Late Friday night, the Senate backed legislation averting a government shutdown as coal-state Democrats retreated on long-term health care benefits for retired miners.
(FOX NEWS) – With less than hour to spare, the Senate late Friday backed legislation averting a government shutdown as coal-state Democrats retreated on long-term health care benefits for retired miners but promised a renewed fight for the working class next year.
The vote was 63-36 and sent the stop-gap spending bill to President Barack Obama for his signature ahead of a midnight deadline.
It came hours after Democrats dropped threats to block the measure in hopes of using the shutdown deadline to try to win a one-year respite for 16,500 miners facing the loss of health care benefits at year’s end.
Instead, the legislation provides benefits at a cost of $45 million for four months.
Democrats evoked President-elect Donald Trump, a working class hero in coal country, in pressing for more benefits. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a potential member of the Trump Cabinet, led the fight of coal-state Democrats.
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