North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, voted against most of her fellow GOP House members to keep the government going without cutting off Planned Parenthood funds.

In lieu of a full budget resolution, the short-term “continuing resolution” provides money to keep the government open through Dec. 11, by which time funding will have come up once again.

“I pledged to bring common sense to Congress and ran against political brinkmanship,” said Stefanik. “I continued to make good on that promise by voting to keep the government open. I oppose government shutdowns and the North Country knows all too well the devastating effects that a shutdown would have on our economy and our security.”

Stefanik’s district, New York’s 21st, includes Fort Drum, where many soldiers and civilian workers were affected by delays in paychecks before due to politically inspired shutdowns.

“Our district is home to thousands of government employees, including border patrol agents who help keep our communities safe while promoting important commerce with our Canadian neighbors. In addition, we are the proud home of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, and in a time of increased deployment schedules and mounting international turmoil, it would be unconscionable for us to ask these brave men and women to serve in harm’s way without the promise of a paycheck.

“North Country families expect Congress to fulfill our responsibilities and live up to our commitment to work every day to help keep the American economy moving forward.”

The strong bipartisan vote in the House was 277-151, with almost two-thirds of GOP members voting against passage.

Political analysts in Washington are saying that while many GOP members were opposed to a shutdown, when it became clear the funding would pass without them, many voted against funding, seeing it as an opportunity to signal support for ending controversial funding for Planned Parenthood, a women’s health provider that has been accused of selling fetal parts for profit, which they and supporting Democrats strongly deny.

The Senate passed the bill earlier Wednesday, 78-20, with more than half of Republicans joining Democrats in voting in favor.