WASHINGTON - Congress took a big step toward avoiding a partial federal shutdown on Thursday when the Senate passed a bill to keep the government funded through Dec.
3. The House shortly followed suit. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk for signature.The votes will help avert one crisis, but only delay another as the political parties dig in on a dispute over how to raise the government's borrowing cap before the United States risks a potentially catastrophic default.The Senate approved the short-term funding bill by a 65-35 vote.The House approved the short-term funding measure by a 254-175 vote not long after Senate passage in a 65-35 vote.