Good morning, and welcome to an October Monday that feels like July.

The federal government is open after Congress approved a last-minute spending measure ahead of the new fiscal year. House Republicans relied on Democratic votes to push the plan through just hours before the government's spending authority would have expired. NPR reports that more Democrats than Republicans wound up supporting the plan to keep money flowing through mid-November. Fresh aid to Ukraine was left behind, but there will be an extra $16 billion to respond to disasters domestically. All members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation voted in favor of the measure. Republican Rep. Pete Stauber said it was “the best remaining option” to keep the government open, make sure troops and border agents continue to get paid and give Congress “more time to finish our work and pass fiscally responsible government bills.” Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said it was imperative to prevent cutting essential services and her party’s votes were needed to end “extremist Republican chaos and obstruction.” She said she hopes the bipartisan collaboration carries forward to avoid having a repeat of brinkmanship in November.

The whole ordeal has again put House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s leadership under fire. Some Republicans who didn’t like the deal plan to seek his ouster. But that is seen as a bit of a long shot.

Minnesota DFL Rep. Dean Phillips has taken himself out of his party’s leadership. He had been co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Caucus. But as he continues to weigh a challenge to President Joe Biden, Phillips said it puts him in conflict with the rest of the Democratic leadership. He issued this statement on Sunday: “My convictions relative to the 2024 presidential race are incongruent with the majority of my caucus, and I felt it appropriate to step aside from elected leadership to avoid unnecessary distractions during a critical time for our country. I celebrate Leader Jeffries for his remarkable and principled leadership and extend gratitude to my outstanding friends and colleagues for having created space and place for my perspectives. I’ll continue to abide by my convictions, place people over politics, and support our shared mission to deliver security, opportunity, and prosperity for all Americans. Onward!” Phillips said he will remain in Congress as Minnesota’s 3rd District representative.

More items from the spree of bills approved by Minnesota's 2023 Legislature kick in this month. Immigrants living in the country without prior authorization can begin applying to take the written exam needed before obtaining a driver’s license. The Star Tribune reports that all testing spots are filled for today and a rush of signups are expected in the early going. Meanwhile, MPR’s Aaliyah Demry reports that new sales tax increases for housing and transit also took hold over the weekend. It’s a one percent increase in the seven-county metro area.

Additional legal filings in the fight over former President Donald Trump’s ballot status in Minnesota are leading up to a court showdown. Last week, Trump’s attorneys wrote in a filing with the Minnesota Supreme Court that there was no evidence he was involved in insurrection and said he shouldn’t be denied a spot on 2024 ballots in the state, starting with the March primary. A lawsuit filed by a group of Republican and Democratic voters says he should be deemed ineligible under a constitutional provision meant to punish rebellion. Trump’s lawyers wrote the petition is filled with “innuendo, insinuation and disdain” against Trump, who lost to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. The Trump response also disputes characterizations he egged on protesters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It says his attempts to challenge the election outcome were within his rights. A hearing is set for early November.

Anybody who has an electric vehicle or is thinking of buying one knows that access to juice is critical. And while most EV owners charge up at home, anxiety over where to get a boost on the road is real. MPR’s Dan Gunderson has more on efforts to deploy more EV charging sites in rural Minnesota. Utilities are collaborating with electric car makers to put fast-charging ports in more places from Hallock in the northwest to Lake Benton in the southwest. State grants are also involved. 

Finally, the Minnesota Twins begin their 2023 playoff run at home tomorrow against the Toronto Blue Jays in the wild card round. The format has the Twins as host of all games in the best-of-three series. Game one’s first pitch is set for just after 3:30 p.m. at Target Field. Rumor has it a recently retired MPR political editor will occupy a standing-room only space.