Congress averts a government shutdown ahead of the midterms

… <p>Congress has eliminated the threat of a politically perilous government shutdown this fall.</p> <p>The House voted Tuesday to extend federal spending at current levels, with a few exceptions, through Dec. 11, punting the funding fight until after the midterm elections.</p> <p>Federal funding was set to run out again Sept. 30, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were eager to avoid a prolonged shutdown as voters head to the polls.</p> <p>The legislation passed the House 370-48 with bipartisan support.</p> <p>The Senate already easily passed the measure, known as a continuing resolution, in August. The White House encouraged lawmakers to support the stopgap, and President Trump is expected to sign it.</p> <aside id="ad-backstage-wrap" class="ad-wrap backstage" aria-label="advertisement"><div class="ad-header "><span>Sponsor Message</span></div> <div class="ad-config-wrap"> <div id="ad-backstage-News_Politics" class="ad-config ad-backstage has-refresh-enabled" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/","zone":"News_Politics","targets":{"testserver":"false","isPodcastEpisode":"false","storyId":"nx-s1-5951536"},"site":{"desktop":"n6735.NPR","mobile":"n6735.NPRMOBILE"},"location":"backstage","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":true,"hasRefreshEnabled":true,"isOutstreamVideoEnabled":true}'> …