House Approves Spending Bill in Rare Moment of Accord

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday found a rare moment of accord in the white-knuckle budget fights that have paralyzed Washington this year as lawmakers voted to extend government funding through December.

By a vote of 298 to 121, the Republican-controlled House passed a bill that would allow the government to keep running when current funding expires on Saturday.

The Democratic-controlled Senate is expected to approve it as well.

Though roughly 100 Republicans voted against the bill, the debate lacked the drama of other spending battles this year that have shaken consumer confidence and led to a first-ever debt downgrade.

Congress's most basic task is to oversee the federal purse strings, yet lawmakers took the government to the brink of a shutdown in April and the edge of default in August. Another round of brinkmanship ensued in September over what is normally a routine vote to extend funding.

This time, lawmakers who oversee more than $1 trillion in discretionary spending were able to resolve their differences in an orderly manner.

``It's like a breath of fresh air has blown through this chamber,'' said Republican Representative Steven LaTourette. ''This wasn't a my-way-or-the-highway negotiation.''