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December 17, 2013

Senate expected to pass bipartisan budget deal

Dec. 18, 2013 – The Senate is expected to vote today on a bipartisan, House-passed budget deal for fiscal 2014 and 2015.

The Senate voted 67-33 on Tuesday to move forward on the package. That vote cut off the opportunity for a filibuster and sets the stage for a vote on passage.

Twelve Republican senators voted with Democrats to advance the bill, including: Tennessee's Lamar Alexander, Missouri's Roy Blunt, Georgia's Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, Maine's Susan Collins, Arizona's Jeff Flake and John McCain, Utah's Orrin Hatch, North Dakota's John Hoeven, Wisconsin's Ron Johnson, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Ohio's Rob Portman.

The deal sets discretionary spending at $1.012 trillion for the current fiscal year and $1.014 trillion in fiscal 2015. The House passed the bill last week with a vote of 332-94, before ending their session for the duration of the year.

The Senate is still expected to approve the House-passed defense authorization package as well. Votes on nominations, including that of Janet Yellen to chair the Federal Reserve, are also expected.