Ryan, House Republicans approve spending bill - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKOW) -- Congressman Paul Ryan was one of the House Republicans who on Thursday went along with a stopgap spending bill that avoids a government shutdown.

Ryan, a Janesville resident and the Republican vice presidential nominee, supported a six-month agreement that allows lawmakers and President Barack Obama to put off dicey budget talks until after the November 6 general election.

The short-term spending agreement contains roughly $19 million more in spending than Ryan's proposed budget.

While spending should be lower, Ryan will support this legislation to prevent a government shutdown," Ryan's campaign spokesman, Brendan Buck, said.

The vote was one of the last major actions lawmakers will take before leaving Washington for the fall campaign. The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate is expected to pass the spending measure next week.

Thursday's vote represents a retreat of sorts by tea party House Republicans, who had insisted on no new spending.

The current fiscal budget expires on September 30th.

The spending measure is the last major piece of pre-election legislation from a Congress that's been mostly gridlocked from the moment it took the oath of office in January 2011.