Govt. funding process close to finish line as Senate preps for final vote

(The Center Square) – The ball is in the U.S. Senate’s court to avert a government shutdown Jan. 30, with six fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills signed into law and six more having passed the House.

But the Republican-led upper chamber must still contend both with strong Democratic opposition to one of the funding bills and severe winter weather potentially hindering a successful vote.

Because of the winter weather cancelling Monday’s session, senators will vote Tuesday on all six bills in one $1.9 trillion package. The appropriations bills fund State-Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, and Homeland Security.

Given that U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., opposes the package due to fiscal concerns, Republicans need at least eight Democratic votes for the legislation to overcome the filibuster.

Bundling the bills together increases the chances of the legislation succeeding, given that year-long funding for so many s...