Lawmakers in the House came together Tuesday to pass a short-term funding bill, pushing back a potential government shutdown that had been looming at the end of September. The measure keeps federal spending at current levels all the way through December 11. The vote wasn't particularly close. Members approved the bill 370 to 48, with a mix of 19 Republicans and 29 Democrats voting against it, according to a report from Axios. The stakes behind this vote go beyond just keeping government offices open. Both parties are still feeling the effects of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, and neither side seemed eager to risk a repeat performance so close to an election. Republicans had reason to be nervous heading into this vote. There had been earlier concern that Democrats might use their leverage over the funding bill to push for concessions before the deadline hit. Those fears didn't materialize the way some expected, though. The Senate had already passed the stopgap measure with solid support from both parties before lawmakers left for their August recess, which helped set the stage for a smoother path through the House. Once that happens, it effectively removes the largest piece of unfinished legislative business from Congress's plate ahead of the November 3 elections. It also means that any deeper negotiations over a full year funding agreement will now be pushed off until after voters head to the polls. There's a practical calculation behind that thinking. Every additional day Congress stays in session opens the door to another messy policy fight, something Republicans would rather avoid this close to Election Day. That said, leaving Washington early isn't without its own risks. Some Republicans are uneasy about how it might look to stretch an already long October recess purely to give lawmakers more time on the campaign trail. Sagar is a journalist with an interest primarily in geopolitics and American domestic politics. Before joining Times Now, he wrote for Republic and Sw... View More