House Passes Measure to Fund Government Through 2013

Democrats oppose because it keeps sequester cuts

The House took its first step Wednesday to avoid a government shutdown, passing a measure that funds the government through the end of the current fiscal year.

The measure was approved by a vote of 267 to 151, with most Republicans supporting it and most Democrats voting against it. The Republican measure provides $982 billion in funding for the second half of the fiscal year, keeping agencies humming when the mechanism currently funding government expires March 27.

The vote came as Washington looks to forgo forcing a fiscal crisis this month and instead turns its attention to a more deliberate debate over long-term deficit reduction.