The Senate easily cleared the FY11 spending agreement (HR 1473) late yesterday afternoon after the House passed it by a comfortable margin. The president is expected to sign the bill sometime today before the current continuing resolution (CR) expires tonight at midnight. The bill passed in the House 260-167, with 179 Republicans being joined by 81 Democrats in voting “yea.” A total of 108 Democrats opposed the measure. In the Senate, the final vote was 81-19, with 15 Republicans, three Democrats, and Vermont independent Bernard Sanders voting against the bill. The measure cuts nearly $40 billion in spending compared with FY10 enacted levels.
All members of the Washington State Congressional Delegation voted to support the bill except for Congressman McDermott, who voted “no,” and Congressman Reichert, who was not present due to a death in the family (he reports that he would have voted for the measure).