Lamar Alexander
Bob Corker
Tennessee’s two U.S. senators voted Wednesday to reopen the federal government and raise the nation’s debt limit, a deal likely to have a major impact in Oak Ridge, where federal facilities and contractors had been preparing for possible shutdowns and furloughs.
The last-minute agreement keeps the government open through Jan. 15 and raises the federal government’s debt ceiling through Feb. 7, avoiding a default for now. The bill was approved 81-18 in the U.S. Senate and 285-144 in the House of Representatives.
Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, both Tennessee Republicans, voted for the legislation. A statement from Rep. Chuck Fleischmann’s office did not say whether the congressman voted for or against the bill.
President Barack Obama said he would sign the bill immediately and begin reopening the government immediately, ending the 16-day shutdown.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Angi Agle says
Fleischmann voted no: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll550.xml. Did anyone mention that the shutdown already cost 23 BILLION? No question, we need to get a handle on the finances… but when money’s tight, you don’t use it to start a fire.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, Angi. I did get the House and Senate votes later and posted links in the story I posted this morning.