Senate Moves Toward Vote On Budget, House GOP Vows to Oppose Bill Making Shutdown More Likely

The support for avoiding a vote on the short-term spending bill that would negate a possible government shutdown Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was hoping to drum up with his 21-hour speech failed to show up as the chamber voted to close debate on the bill by a tally of 79 to 19 on Friday afternoon, thus preparing the bill to receive a final vote, according to the Washington Post.

Debate was closed on the bill with only four days left to extend funding for the government to avoid a shutdown. If things go as expected the Senate Democrats will vote to have the rider that removes funding from the Affordable Care Act removed and ultimately pass the bill in order to send it back to the House. House Republicans have said that they will not pass a budget bill that doesn't completely defund the health care law so it is uncertain what will transpire, according to the Washington Post.

"Today the Republican Party has been infected by a small destructive faction," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "These extremists are more interested in putting on a show, as one Republican colleague put it, than legislating."

Cruz has advocated for a government shutdown over the health care law commonly referred to as Obamacare since early in the summer. Speaking on the Senate floor Cruz vowed to continue fighting against the law, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"I very much hope the next time this issue's before this body in a few days, that all 46 Republicans are united against Obamacare and standing with the American people, that we listen to the American people the way Senate Democrats are not," Cruz said.

Many Republicans have blasted Cruz's tactics over the last couple of days arguing that they want to vote on a budget measure that they approve of. It has also been argued that delaying the vote gives the House less time to come up with a new bill that would be palatable to Senate Democrats, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"I don't understand how I can otherwise vote on a matter that I want to see passed," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said. "There are some people across America that are so upset with Obamacare - and I understand their frustration - that say we ought to shut down the federal government. It won't work."