Senate cuts deal to clear government funding bill

The Senate cut a deal on Thursday night to pave the way for passing a short-term government funding bill to avert a shutdown.

Under the deal, the Senate will first vote Thursday night on an amendment from conservatives to defund President Biden’s vaccine mandate for larger employers, which is expected to fall short.

Democrats agreed to allow the amendment vote at a simple-majority threshold. That means if every Republican and one Democrat voted for the amendment it would be added to the funding bill.