Lawmakers approve bill to avert shutdown

House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, center, and Senate leader Tim Ashe, left. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
Under a cloud of opposition from Republicans, including Gov. Phil Scott, the House gave preliminary approval Friday to a spending package aimed at averting a government shutdown in the event that a budget standoff draws out until July.Lawmakers proposed the plan this week, hoping to advance the budget lawmakers agreed to with broad bipartisan support before adjourning last month. The prop