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Politics & Government

Crisis Averted, Kirk Predicts Deal to Avoid Government Shutdown to the Hour

Agreement maintains Planned Parenthood funding.

When Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) predicted yesterday that , he knew what he was talking about. 

Less than an hour before the midnight deadline yesterday, President Barack Obama reached agreement with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to fund government operations through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. The deal avoided a cessation of services at midnight Friday. 

“It will probably happen at 11 tonight,” Kirk said during a media conference call with local reporters including Patch late Friday afternoon. “That’s the way these things usually work.”

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The deal was a personal vindication for who did not want to see funding for Planned Parenthood cut. Part of the last minute agreement maintained money for women’s health services according to a report from Politico.

“I have voted not to defund Planned Parenthood," Dold said yesterday.

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And seconds after the deal was annoucned, Sen. Kirk took to the social media airwaves: "Commend leaders on bipartisan, bicameral compromise on spending cuts and riders to avoid government shut down," he tweeted.

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