House Passes Spending Bill

The threatened government shutdown has been officially averted, for one week, at least. The House passed a stopgap spending bill without any objections in a sparsely attended session Thursday. The measure, which will keep the government running past Friday, was approved by the Senate earlier this week when the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that it could get through Friday with its current funds. House Republicans had been demanding cuts in exchange for FEMA funds, which Democrats refused to approve. When the House gets back from its weeklong recess, it will take up a Senate deal that would fund the government through Nov. 18.