Senate starts voting Tuesday to keep government open past Friday, with Manchin proposal in play

The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on the short short-term funding measure to keep the federal government fully operational past Friday – but passage is being complicated by the attached proposal to reform energy permits that is connected to Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has included the proposal for the West Virginia senator in exchange for his pivotal vote in the passage last month of the $750 billion Inflation Reduction Act.

The Democrat-controlled Senate will begin the process of passing the so-called Continuing Resolution funding measure with a formal debate Tuesday that will need 60 votes to end and allow for a final passage.

However, if Schumer cannot get the 60 votes, he’s expected to remove the Manchin proposal to pass the spending measure and keep the government fully operational.

The proposal faces opposition from both sides of the aisle. Republicans believe Manchin misled them over the multi-billion-dollar spending bill with his last-minute yes vote, while progressive Democrats say its approval will lead to more oil and natural gas drilling, according to Punchbowl News. 

The continuing resolution is expected to include over $12 billion in military and economic aid for Ukraine and disaster relief for Jackson, Mississippi, Punchbowl also reports.