Via Huff Po:
The Senate is all but guaranteed to pass a $1.1 trillion grab-bag funding bill to keep the government open. But the effort to pass the bill has been fraught with drama, as a simmering feud between Republican leaders and the conservative wing of their party led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sparked an unusual weekend voting marathon Saturday.
It all started Friday evening when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) rejected an offer from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to push ahead with the funding bill, as well as measures that extend expiring tax breaks and the federally backed terrorism insurance program.
Reid objected because he also wanted to approve about 20 of President Barack Obama’s nominees before the Senate left session.
The resulting arrangement was that the Senate would approve a short stopgap funding bill on Friday, take a break, then finish most remaining business by Monday night, including the controversial funding bill that will keep the government running through September.