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The U.S. Senate on Friday overcame Tea Party-backed roadblocks and advanced a bill that would avert a government shutdown by funding federal agencies beyond Oct. 1.

The Senate got the minimum 60 votes it needed to speed up passage of the legislation, which was expected to occur shortly.

The measure would then be sent to the House of Representatives, where lawmakers have been insisting on attaching proposals that are almost certain to be rejected by the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Barack Obama.

The Senate is now expected to pass a Democratic amendment to strip a provision in the bill that cuts money for the Affordable Care Act. A simple majority is all that is required for that vote. A final vote will return the bill to the House, putting pressure on the Republican-controlled chamber to act with just three days left to avoid a government shutdown.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-government-shutdown-20130927,0,2822735.story