Washington — The Senate moved ahead Monday with a plan to keep the government funded beyond the midterm elections as lawmakers work to avoid another costly shutdown this fall. Senate appropriators unveiled the continuing resolution on Sunday, which would keep the government funded at current levels, with some exceptions, through Dec. 11. In a statement Sunday, DeLauro called the Senate measure "a clear improvement over the House Republican continuing resolution." Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, praised the stopgap funding measure for avoiding "any poison pills." The continuing resolution advanced in an 89-4 procedural vote Monday evening.