Ladies and gentlemen, Congress has passed a budget.
The Senate joined the House in passing the bipartisan budget deal Wednesday afternoon, 64-36.
The deal, which was negotiated by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, drew fire from Senators on both sides of the aisle, with Democrats objecting to the omission of unemployment insurance in the deal, and Republicans raising a variety of objections, including that the budget would cut retirement benefits for military retirees.
Still, nine Republicans joined all 55 Democrats in voting for passage: Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.
Three of the 12 Republicans who voted in favor of advancing the bill to a final vote voted ‘no’ on final passage. Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Roy Blunt of Missouri voted to help the bill pass a procedural hurdle on Tuesday; all three voted against final passage of the budget.
The budget now heads to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature.