One of the most turbulent sessions of Congress in the modern era is about to make way for the next one. Midnight passage of the government shutdown package put in sharp focus the political fault lines emerging in Washington, as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., fights for his job and Republicans sweep into control of the House and Senate in the new year.
It took bipartisan votes, Republicans and Democrats, to keep government running for a few more months and provide some $100 billion for disaster aid. Working together, the parties showed the House and Senate can still function, at times, to accomplish the basics of governing.
“After a chaotic few days in the House, it’s good news that the bipartisan approach in the end prevailed,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat. “It’s a good lesson for next year. Both sides have to work together.”
But next year, with big GOP promises to
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