In a 335-91 vote, House lawmakers narrowly averted a colossal government shutdown, leaving 91 members – 90 Republicans and one Democrat – ready to trigger a crisis affecting millions of Americans. This crisis was the fault of House Republican leadership, who stalled on bringing up a passable package until today, forcing a last-minute scramble just hours before a potential shutdown. Such recklessness is no way to govern. The question now is whether legislators can put aside their differences to pass comprehensive spending bills in a timely manner.

The Senate must act swiftly to pass the 45-day Continuing Resolution and stave off a government shutdown.

In a political landscape where no single party controls the House, Senate, and Presidency, compromise isn’t just desirable—it’s essential. The first order of business should be reverting to the spending levels agreed upon in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. While we advocate for reducing deficits, it’s crucial to honor enforceable, bipartisan agreements as the foundation for drafting the dozen spending bills that will keep the government operational.