Just a few minutes ago the Senate voted to approve a deal negotiated by Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker John Boehner that will avert a shutdown of the federal government. Senator Coons was presiding over the Senate during the historic moment, putting him in a position to declare “The ayes appear to have it… the ayes do have it” and make the vote official.
In a statement released moments after the vote, Chris said he was “pleased that leaders in the Senate and House were able to reach a budget agreement tonight to avoid a shutdown of the federal government, which would have had wide-ranging, negative impacts on Delawareans and all Americans. It is my hope that the serious discussions in future budget negotiations are not similarly delayed by ideological debates over social policy.”