The House on Thursday passed a bill reflecting last week's agreement to fund the federal government for the rest of fiscal 2011 by a 260-167 vote in which most Republicans supported it and most Democrats opposed it. The Senate approved the bill hours later by a 81-19 margin.
The White House released a statement from Press Secretary Jay Carney in reaction to the bill's passage.
"As the President said last week, we are pleased that Democrats and Republicans, on behalf of all Americans, were able to reach an agreement to avert a government shutdown by making significant spending cuts while still investing in our future," it reads. "Because of this deal, small businesses will continue to receive loans, families will continue to receive mortgages, and hundreds of thousands of government workers and our military personnel will get their paychecks on time."
Although President Obama helped broker the deal and it came with the support of Democratic leaders in Congress, 108 House Democrats voted against it, with 81 yes votes.
Fifty-nine Republicans voted against the measure, a sign that many conservatives are still disappointed that their leadership was not able to negotiate deeper spending cuts. That's also more than the 54 Republicans who voted against a three-week spending resolution in March over complaints that more dramatic spending reductions were not made.
Members on both sides praised the ability of Congress to come together on an agreement, and both Republicans and Democrats argued in favor of what they called a "flawed" deal.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) agreed that few are happy with the deal, but said little else could be expected given the political split in Congress.
"Is it perfect? No. I'd be the first one to admit that it's flawed," Boehner said. "Well, welcome to divided government."
Boehner said he wishes more cuts could have been achieved, and hinted that more would be coming. "Does it cut enough? No. Do I wish it cut more? Absolutely. And do we need to cut more? Absolutely."
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced that he would vote for the resolution and called on his colleagues to do the same.
"We have a choice to make," Hoyer said. "That choice is whether we will come together, work together, try to make the best possible agreement that we can make and then move together. I think the American public expects us to do that."
