House Passes Budget Deal

Are we dreaming, or is the two-week long shutdown truly over? On Wednesday evening, a deal to fund the government passed the House with a 285 to 144 vote, with a prominent nay vote from Paul Ryan, after Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz voted no in the Senate. Obama then signed the bill after pledging reopen the government “immediately.” Republicans were upset the deal lacks any major legislative changes to Obamacare, but on Wednesday, Speaker John Boehner announced he’d “absolutely” take the bill and push for its passage. The deal comes just a day before the debt ceiling deadline and will fund the government until January 15, while raising the debt limit through February 7. It also will give back pay to furloughed government employees, who are expected to return to work Thursday.