The U.S. House of Representatives and Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) voted Dec. 21 to extend the government budget into January. The vote for a short-term fix over shutting down the government was 231-188. That was also passed by the Senate, and signed by the president. The House also passed an $81 billion disaster aid bill in the wake of this year's hurricanes and wildfires with money for Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and California. That passed 251-169, with another yes vote from Faso. But the Senate ignored the bill, at least until after the holiday break.