The Senate on Thursday took a first step toward advancing some government funding, passing a bipartisan package of bills that would pay for the operations of major agencies such as Agriculture, Transportation and Interior. Today was a good step, but it was only a step,” Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) told reporters. Current government funding lasts through Nov. 21, and congressional leaders agree another short-term funding fix will be needed as appropriations talks stretch on.
