Senate Passes Short-term Funding Bill, Averting Shutdown

The Senate passed a bill late Friday night to fund the government through April 28, acting just shortly before the government was due to partially shut down. The House approved the measure on Thursday and it now goes to President Barack Obama for signature. The funding bill was held up by Democrats' efforts to get a longer extension of miners' health-care benefits. But lawmakers said they wouldn't shut down the government over the issue and vowed to press it next year. The vote was 63-36.