Area Congresswoman Cheri Bustos joined with 276 other legislators yesterday to approve a temporary spending plan in the U.S. House.
The 277-151 vote in favor avoids a government shutdown, at least for now. It was an unsurprising vote cast by the East Moline Democrat, who voiced her approval when she spearheaded a letter to outgoing speaker of the House John Boehner.
That letter asked Boehner to keep Congress in session everyday until a deal was worked out.
Yesterday, the vote came down to the wire with just hours to go until a midnight deadline would have put the federal government on hold.
In a press release, Bustos criticized Congressional Republicans for holding out so long. She says Republicans “refused our request to work through the last several weekends on a long term, bipartisan agreement.” Various Republicans held off and sought to use the bill as a way to defund Planned Parenthood.
Bustos adds “they kicked the can down the road until December.” The new shutdown deadline is now December 11th.
