Senate passed a budget bill Friday, restored Obamacare provision and sent the bill back to the house. The house will review the plan Saturday, leading to a potential standoff as early as Monday.
Speaker John Boehner said he will not accept the funding bill. He said he intends to send the bill back to the Senate by Monday.
The senate voted 55-45 to strip the defunding provision from the budget bill despite Texas Sen.Ted Cruz’s attempt to sway the vote in filibuster style Wednesday. Cruz stood on his feet 21 hours and 18 minutes, asking the Senate to strike down the bill. Cruz vowed to stay until he could no longer stand for the Americans who were not being heard.
“The American people are frustrated,” said Cruz on the Senate floor. “There are politicians in this body who are not listening to the people.”
Though the bill did not fund Obamacare, Cruz said Democrats would add Obamacare funding into the legislation. Republicans still voted for the bill 79-19. Funding for Obamacare was reinstated Friday morning.
The senate also voted to extend government funding to mid-November, preventing a government shut down as soon as Tuesday.
Senate conservatives said the fight will be ongoing.
“This vote is not the end. It’s not even the beginning,” said Sen. Republican Mike Lee of Utah. “It’s about showing people we’re going to do what we say we’re going to even when, especially when, it’s inconvenient.”
The House will meet Saturday to discuss and vote on the budget bill.
