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US government shutdown averted as Senate passes spending bill

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted to allow funding to the government. © Getty Images
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The US has averted a government shutdown after the Senate passed a Republican-led measure to keep the government funded for the next six months.

The stopgap funding bill passed in the Senate 54-46, as two Democrats joined all but one Republican senator in voting yes. President Donald Trump must now sign it into law before the Friday midnight deadline.

The key vote came earlier when some Senate Democrats, after fierce debate, allowed the measure to pass a procedural hurdle.

The Senate minority leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, and nine others broke with their colleagues to vote to advance the bill to its final Friday evening vote.

Two Democrats – Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine – voted in favour of its final passage. Schumer voted “no”.

On Thursday, he announced he would vote to allow the measure to move forward, saying although it wasn’t a bill he liked, he believed triggering a shutdown would be a worse result.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez called Schumer’s willingness to let the spending bill proceed a “huge slap in the face”, adding that there is a “wide sense of betrayal” among the party, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

She said supporting the bill “codifies the chaos and the reckless cuts that Elon Musk has been pursuing”, and that Senate Democrats who voted yes would be empowering “the robbing of our federal government in order to finance tax cuts for billionaires”.

The Democrats had agonised over whether to support the measure, and eventually pushed for a 30-day continuing resolution that was unlikely to earn enough support to pass.

Senator Ted Cruz accused the Democrats of conducting “political theater” and praised the bill’s passage.

“The government is funded, let’s get back to work,” he said in a statement.

The passage is a victory for Trump and congressional Republicans.

On Friday morning, Trump offered rare bipartisan praise of Schumer’s decision to let the bill advance, writing that “a non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights”.

The legislation would keep much of the federal funding levels from the Biden Administration in place, with some key changes.

It increases military spending by $6bn (£4.6bn), for items like border security, veterans healthcare, and military spending. But would cut non-defence funding by about $13bn.

Local officials in Washington DC had feared the bill would result in a $1bn cut in federal funds for the city over the next six months. However, the Senate approved a separate bill that kept its current operating budget intact, the New York Times reported.

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Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor Commissions Health Centre in Ihitte-Uboma

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Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor Commissions Health Centre in Ihitte-Uboma

 

… Charges community leaders to protect infrastructure in their domain

… Gives date for commissioning of more projects in the constituency

… Promises to resume distribution of Transformers to improve power supply

The member representing Ehime-Mbano, Ihitte-Uboma and Obowo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, PhD, has, on Friday 14th March 2025 commissioned another Primary Healthcare centre, building in Umuaweke- Amainyi, Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area, Imo State.

The project, which, according to him, is in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the people of the area, following a request by the traditional ruler and others.

He stated that, with this addition to the various Healthcare centres his had built across the Federal Constituency, his desire for affordable, proximate, adequate medical care is gradually being achieved. And this is meant to complement the Health sector effort of His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimma, in delivering quality healthcare to the people.

He therefore charged the leaders in the area, to protect the facility and other public infrastructure in the area, as any act of vandalism affects the people more than it does the government.

Speaking on the occasion, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe, who performed the commissioning of the hospital complex hailed the large heart of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, and his determination to deliver democratic dividends to his constituents, despite all lacerating remarks, especially on social media. He urged him to not relent in doing as he is wont to do, because he will only be remembered for his great contributions by posterity, even in the area of Free WAEC registration for the people.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Honourable Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Health insurance and social services, Dr. Prosper success Ohayagha, who commissioned the Doctor’s quarters complex, of the project extolled the virtues of Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor, in his continued support for 3R administration of Gov. Hope Uzodimma through such interventions as he has been doing. He assured, that working with the Executive Secretary, Imo State Primary Healthcare Development Authority, Rev. Sis Dr. Maria-Johanness Uzoma, who was also present, they will ensure optimum performance of the facility. The commissioner had earlier paid an unscheduled visit to a similar Healthcare centre, in Amuzi, Obowo LGA, also built by Hon. Chike Okafor, to ascertain the level of optimisation of the facility.

The Local Government chairman, Hon. Obioha Ndukwe and the Hon. Commission for Water Resources, Ozo Obinna Ogwuegbu were full of praise for Hon. Chike Okafor for this laudable project and urged him to continue to do more to help the people.

The occasion was graced by Hon. Kelechi Ofurum, member representing Owerri North State constituency in Imo State House of Assembly, also had notable leaders across Ehime Mbano, Ihitte-Uboma, Obowo LGA and beyond, including: HRH Eze Kelechi Osita Okeke Ama of Umuaweke, HRH Eze M.O Onyemakwuru, Óma 1 of Umuoma, Eze Innocent Onuoha, Ikpe 1 of Ikpenwafor, Eze Pharm. Emeka Ogbonna (Ohazurume), Iyi 1 of Amainyi, HRH Eze Marcel Iheme, Egwunte III of Umuezegwu, HRH Uwangwanti-uzi of uzinomi, Hon. Prince Obioha Ndukwe, Ihitte-Uboma LGA chairman, Hon. Commission for Water Resources, Ozo Obinna Ogwuegbu, Hon. Commissioner Primary Healthcare Health insurance and social services, Dr. Success Prosper-Ohayagha, Executive Sec Imo State Primary Healthcare Development Authority, Rev. Sis Dr. Maria-Johanness Uzoma, Special Adviser, to the Governor on Security matters, Major Gen. Ogbonna, Rtd, Hon. Dr. Godrick Anosike, former Commissioner for health and former chairman of Obowo LGA, Hon. CHIDI Nwoke, for TC Chairman of Obowo LGA, Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Onwueyiagba, former Commissioner for Talents Hunt and Youth Development, among others.

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Here are the three bills passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 14, 2025

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1. Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, 2025

Purpose: To grant the House powers, privileges, and immunity to perform its legislative duties.

2. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, 2025

Purpose: To repeal the existing State Electoral Law of 2018 and re-enact a new law to establish, define the composition, and outline the functions of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

3. Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025

Purpose: To repeal the State’s Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023, and 2024, and re-enact a new law for the administration of Local Government Councils.

These bills were passed during the 136th Legislative Sitting and have been forwarded to the Governor of Rivers State for assent.

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VIDEO: Fubara is already down, more to come for him — Wike boasts

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The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has declared that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is already losing political ground in the state.

Wike, speaking at a grand reception held in his honour by the Kalabari people in Abalama, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, criticised the governor’s choice of allies, saying that Fubara is surrounded by individuals who had previously harboured governorship ambitions.

According to him, he refused to approve Fubara’s alliance with those individuals because he knew they had no good intentions for the people of Rivers State.

The minister declared that Governor Fubara was already down politically and boasted that more setbacks were awaiting him.

He said, “You (Fubara) surround yourself with people who wanted to be governor, to whom I said ‘no, these people don’t mean well for Rivers State.’ They are the ones surrounding you, giving you advice.

“Do you think you will succeed? They will give you bad advice and look at what bad advice is doing to you. You are already down 2-0, and there’s more to come. I have never seen this type of politics where you surround yourself with those who want your seat.”

This comes a few days after Wike said nothing catastrophic would occur if the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, proceeds with the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike stated that there was nothing unusual about a state legislature removing a sitting governor over alleged impeachable offences, including claims that Fubara withheld lawmakers’ salaries for several months.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart said, “If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a criminal offence? It’s provided in the constitution. Am I a member of the Assembly?

“If you have committed an infraction of the constitution and the Assembly deems it fit to say, you should be impeached.

“I have heard people say: ‘Oh, if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order. ’ Rubbish! Nothing will happen.”

Wike also dismissed suggestions that the Assembly was acting in bad faith, noting that if the lawmakers were not interested in peace, they would have embarked on a six-month recess after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the state’s political crisis.

See the video below:

watch video here www.ekwutosblog.com?s=46

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