Reid: Splitting up CR isn’t ‘viable option’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Senate passage of the House continuing resolution is necessary to prevent another government shutdown.

“It’s not perfect, that’s for sure,” Reid said on the Senate floor Thursday. “But the funding resolution before us is infinitely better than the alternatives, another government shutdown.”

{mosads}On Wednesday, the House voted 319-108 to approve the $1 trillion bill that will keep the government funded through Dec. 11. The House added an amendment authorizing a program to train and equip moderate Syrian rebel groups to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

If the Senate fails to pass the measure, the government could shut down on Oct. 1.

Some lawmakers oppose lumping the two issues together, but it was done in part so lawmakers could leave town by the end of the week to campaign for the midterm elections.

“Breaking up the legislation the House sent us is not a viable option,” Reid said.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the CR around 5 p.m. on Thursday before adjourning until after the midterm elections.