Senate OKs bills averting government shutdown
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Senate on Monday night cleared two stop-gap spending measures that will fund the government past Friday and avert a government shutdown, and sent the bills to the House for approval. In a vote of 79-12, the Senate passed a so-called "clean" budget bill that funds the government though Nov. 18 and includes about $2.5 billion in disaster-relief funds. Senators also approved a one-week stop-gap measure that gives the House time to consider the six-week funding bill. That bill passed on a voice vote.