



Democrats, in contrast, want a vote on a "clean" funding plan passed by the Senate that funds all of the government, including ObamaCare.







Debate on the rule itself was essentially a repeat of the debate that has been heard on the House floor for the last several days. Democrats argued that Republicans are responsible for shutting down the government by failing to call up the Senate bill.

Republicans reiterated their argument that the government could be funded if Democrats were willing to negotiate, and that Democrats continue to turn away even non-controversial spending bills in the meantime.

"Unfortunately for the American people, not much has changed," said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.). "The Senate is still recalcitrant, unwilling to consider legislation that would re-open parts of the government."

After debate, members passed the rule 222-183; one Republican voted against it.

With these votes, the House is now in a position to debate and pass two of these smaller spending resolutions today — one funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency, while the other funds a nutrition program for low-income women and children.

The rule also lets the House consider several other bills in the coming days. On Saturday, the House is expected to pass a bill ensuring that all federal workers furloughed under the shutdown receive back pay once the shutdown is over.

The retroactive pay bill has bipartisan support, and the Obama administration on Friday endorsed it while remaining opposed to the GOP's "piecemeal" approach to the spending bills.

The rule also provides for "same-day" authority through Oct. 21, which means the House will be able to consider a bill on the same day that the Rules Committee approves a rule for that bill — normally, a day must pass before bills can to from Rules to the floor.

And it allows the House to consider suspension bills on any day through Oct. 20. Usually, votes on non-controversial suspension bills are held only on Monday or Tuesday.