Congress averted another government shutdown. Here’s how lawmakers from KS and MO voted

Lawmakers from Kansas and Missouri split as Congress passed a measure to avoid a government shutdown over the Thanksgiving holiday, once again pushing off a contentious debate over government spending levels, this time until next year.

The Senate late Wednesday voted 87-11 to pass a bill that would set two new deadlines for government funding to run out. Funding for some agencies, like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, will expire on Jan. 19, while others, like Homeland Security, will expire on Feb. 2.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, was the only senator from Kansas or Missouri to oppose the bill. Schmitt has railed against the appropriations process in his first term, which often pushes back deadlines and lumps spending bills together, and voted against an earlier effort to push off the spending debate.

“The American people deserve transparency on what their tax dollars are going to, and voting on each appropriations bill is a step in the right direction,” Schmitt said. “It’s imperative that we end the reckless spending spree and ensure that we stop governing by continuing resolution – I will continue to lead that charge.”

The bill was first proposed by House Republicans, who were divided over to pass another measure that will keep the government open without any cuts to spending. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, had to rely on Democrats in the House to pass the bill 336-95 earlier in the week.

All but two Democrats supported the temporary spending measure, while 93 Republicans opposed it, including freshman Missouri Republican Reps. Mark Alford and Eric Burlison and Kansas Reps. Ron Estes and Tracey Mann.

“While I applaud Speaker Johnson’s effort, I could not in good faith support this continuing resolution,” Alford, who was one of the last representatives to vote on the measure, said. “Right now, our national debt exceeds $33 trillion. The only way to solve this crisis is by facing it head on, not kicking the can down the road.”

Passing the measure with the support of Democrats put Johnson in a similar position as Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican who was ousted as Speaker after striking a last-minute deal that kept the government funded in October.

Johnson will now face tough negotiations with the Democratically-controlled Senate and White House over the next few months, which are resistant to further spending cuts.

How they voted

A yes vote means the lawmaker supported keeping the government temporarily funded.

Kansas

Rep. Sharice Davids (D) — Yes

Rep. Ron Estes (R) — No

Rep. Jake LaTurner (R) — Yes

Rep. Tracey Mann (R) — No

Sen. Roger Marshall (R) — Yes

Sen. Jerry Moran (R) — Yes

Missouri

Rep. Mark Alford (R) — No

Rep. Eric Burlison (R) — No

Rep. Cori Bush (D) — Yes

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) — Yes

Rep. Sam Graves (R) — Yes

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R) — Yes

Rep. Jason Smith (R) — Yes

Rep. Ann Wagner (R) — Yes

Sen. Josh Hawley (R) — Yes

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R) — No