1 of 7 | Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to the press after the House passed a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Friday. The Republican plan now goes to the Senate and would fund the government until November 21. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 19 (UPI) — House Republicans on Friday passed a short-term funding bill that is expected to face stiff opposition from Senate Democrats who have taken issue with Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.

The lower chamber voted 217-212 in favor of the continuing resolution, with Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, joining Republicans and Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voting against the bill.

The Senate also is expected to vote on the CR on Friday, but with 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster to block it, the 53-seat majority Senate Republicans will need the support of seven Democrats.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., on Thursday expressed optimism, saying Republicans will have the votes needed to pass the continuing resolution just as they did in March’s CR vote.

“We’re going to get this government funded,” he told reporters, according to NPR. “We’re going to keep the funding going and our appropriators will have more time to do their work.”

An unnamed leader among House Republicans told The Hill that the party will attempt to force Senate Democrats into going along with the CR by refusing to return to business in Congress until Oct. 1. Congress is on a break next week in observance of Rosh Hashanah, but House Republicans have also canceled votes previously scheduled for Sept. 29 and Sept. 30.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York ended up striking a deal with Republicans and voted in favor of the March CR to avoid a government shutdown at the time. He could block the bill currently under consideration with a filibuster.

Both Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York have promised to vote against the CR. They cited the need to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

“Republicans know that this partisan reckless, dirty spending bill is dead on arrival in the United States Senate, and yet Republicans continue to refuse to even discuss protecting the healthcare of the American people,” Jeffries said on the House floor ahead of Friday’s vote, according to CBS News.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, expressed support for the CR on a post on Truth Social.

“Congressional Republicans, including [Senate Republican] Leader John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson, are working on a short term “CLEAN” extension of Government Funding to stop Cryin’ Chuck Schumer from shutting down the Government,” Trump posted on his social media site.

“In times like these, Republicans have to stick TOGETHER to fight back against the Radical Left Democrat demands, and vote “YES!” on both Votes needed to pass a Clean CRP this week out of the House of Representatives. Democrats want the Government to shut down. Republicans want the Government to OPEN.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to the press after the House passed a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on Friday. The Republican plan now goes to the Senate and would fund the government until November 21. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo