Kansas, Missouri House Republicans vote against government funding bill, while senators split their decisions

Every Republican House member from Kansas and Missouri voted against the bill that funds the government through Dec. 11.

Two Democrats — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and Rep. William Clay — voted for the measure Wednesday afternoon.

The votes help illustrate the major division within the GOP over the funding bill. Republicans control the House, yet it took Democratic votes — 186 of them — to approve the so-called continuing resolution and keep the government working.

That math was a major reason Republican speaker John Boehner resigned his seat this month: without Democrats, he knew, the government would likely close.

Ninety-one Republicans eventually voted in favor of the funding bill, while 151 voted no. It passed 277-151 and is on its way to the White House.

On the other side of Capitol Hill, Kansas and Missouri senators split their votes Wednesday morning.

Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts voted for the bill, while Sen. Jerry Moran voted no. Both are Republicans.

In Missouri, Republican Sen. Roy Blunt voted no. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, voted yes.

“I just think it’s time to move on and have spending bills reflect current priorities,” Blunt said Wednesday morning.

This story was originally published September 30, 2015 at 10:56 AM.