Senate passes short-term government funding to avert shutdown

The Senate has passed a bill to fund the government through March 11, averting a partial government shutdown that would otherwise occur after midnight Saturday. The bill now goes to President Biden's desk for his signature. 

The final vote was 65 to 27, which included a number of Republicans. The bill, which required 60 votes to pass in the Senate, passed the House last week. 

Republicans who voted against the bill spoke out against what they described as too-large government spending and record-high inflation levels, and three GOP-offered amendments to the continuing resolution failed.