U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has quietly but effectively aided the Republicans on an important spending vote, and thereby increased his own standing and perhaps the prospects of his beleaguered party.

Ten Senate Democrats led by Schumer joined with Republicans to pass a stopgap spending bill on March 14 that averted a government shutdown and guarantees that the U.S. government will continue to operate through the end of September.

The threat of the government shutting down is an ongoing problem, dating from the Jimmy Carter administration. Before 1980, the expiration of appropriations legislation did not disrupt government functions. Politicians worked things out, flexibly, pragmatically and behind the scenes.

Then, during the Carter years, curious Democratic Rep. Gladys Noon Spellman inquired about the 1884 Antideficiency Act, which prohibits spending public funds without Congressional authorization. The capable Elmer Staats, comptroller general,........

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