Congress is in the midst of a shutdown stalemate, and lawmakers have left Washington. Only the Senate plans to return before government funding expires at the end of the month.

The House passed a short-term bill Friday to keep the government open into the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Hours later, the Senate rejected it, along with a Democrat alternative adding more healthcare spending and some of Democrats’ other priorities.

“All it takes is a handful of Democrats to join the Republicans in keeping the government open and funded,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, referring to the chamber’s 60-vote threshold for overcoming a filibuster.

He plans to hold a vote on the Republican bill again when the chamber returns next week. The House has adjourned through Sept. 30, putting pressure on the Senate to take that bill as the only option for averting a shutdown. Read Full Story

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