Vermont senators split on major federal budget deal

Sens. Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy at a Statehouse ceremony in December. File photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
WASHINGTON — Vermont’s senators are split over a massive budget deal that would avert a government shutdown and set a fiscal framework for the country for the next two years.
Senate Republicans and Democrats brokered the package, which raises spending limits on spending on both defense and non-defense programs by about $300 billion, extends funding for several health car