Congress approved and sent to President Barack Obama a short-term spending bill to keep the government open through next Wednesday as lawmakers and the White House rushed to finalize a staggering new government-wide spending bill.
The new spending allowance, a $1.1 trillion bill and a sprawling tax package, is expected to pass with little issue next week.
The measure was approved by voice vote Friday hours ahead of a midnight deadline.
Dozens of pet projects remain unresolved, most of them policy disputes over environmental and other issues that lawmakers of both parties are trying to attach to the must-pass spending legislation.
“We’re not going to get everything we want in negotiations. The Democrats aren’t going to get everything they want in negotiations,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters Thursday. “But I believe that we will successfully complete these negotiations.”
Under current law, government funding expires Friday at midnight, when the last short-term spending bill expires. The Senate agreed by voice vote and without debate Thursday to extend that deadline through Wednesday Dec. 16 to allow more time for talks. The House was expected to follow suit Friday, but Ryan allowed that even more time might be needed.
“I’m not going to put a deadline on it,” he said.
Earlier, Ryan assured lawmakers from Northeastern states that legislation extending health benefits and a compensation fund for 9/11 first responders would be made part of the spending bill. The spending legislation, which funds the government through the 2016 budget year, has become increasingly intertwined with the tax bill.
Uncertainty remained as to whether lawmakers would pull off a major tax bill with permanent extensions benefiting both sides, or simply opt for a two-year extension of existing tax breaks. With Congress’ legislative year drawing to a close, lawmakers were eager to finalize their work and head home for the holidays.
“Everything is tenuous right now. We’ve had meetings; there’s no finality,” Senate Minority Leader Harry, D-Nev., said late Thursday. He said sticking points relate to labor and environmental issues, and to a campaign finance provision pushed by his Republican counterpart, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, to lift certain spending limits by party committees.
The two-year budget and debt deal passed earlier this year set the overall spending levels, but that left it up to the powerful Appropriations Committee to allocate the money ahead of the deadline for a partial government shutdown. The final areas of contention are the so-called “riders,” the policy issues that lawmakers like to add to must-do bills.
House Democrats, who’ve sought to draw attention to their push for gun control legislation in the wake of recent mass shootings, emphasized a new demand during the day as they announced their opposition to any bill that doesn’t undo a longstanding provision that has been interpreted to block the Centers for Disease Control from conducting research on gun violence.
“My understanding from them is they need Democratic votes to pass it. So we will have to come to terms to do that,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. “Don’t expect us to vote for a bill that has a ban in it. Take the ban out.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Ryan is another sell out. Even in the days of Tip O”Neill congressmen attempted to serve the American people. Today, it is common to send a letter or e-mail to a congressional office on a legitimate issue and not get a reply. Today there is a rule in Congress not to answer letters from citizens who do not live in their district.
Don’t give in to the Democratic lies.. Especially Palosi, Boxer and Feinstein Gun’s are not the problem’
Obama and the D are stripping this country of what keeps us safe.. The D’s are wanting to make us a 3rd world country
“We’re not going to get everything we want in negotiations. The Democrats aren’t going to get everything they want in negotiations,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters Thursday. “But I believe that we will successfully complete these negotiations.”
And we the taxpayers will once again ‘take it up the a _ _”
Only in Amerika!!!!
Paul Ryan is another RINO, having cheated and lied to the American people to strengthen his ambitious climb to the presidency! Shame on him!
Paul Ryan was backed by last guy John B. They always give Bama everything he wants. They all need to tossed out.
Everyone one of this life-long “public servants” (??) need to go home now…they do not serve the American peoples needs anymore…its all their own pork …not voting one incumbent in 2017…..we need to get rid of the “politics as usual” and let them go home to have “more time with their families”…..
Some questions I am pondering as a
RIGHT wing Libertarian from Northern CA.
So this is the supposed fiscally
“Conservative party” of Republicans
Who now have a majority in the house and senate why do they need democratic votes ?
Why would Pelosi’s “understanding”
be made public ?
Can Homeless veterans apply for refugee status ?
Why is the IRS allowed to plead the fifth when the people are not?
Is this like insider trading for Congress until recent times ? The opt out of the Health care bill ?
When will the people unite into nullification by states
Why do liberals defend Islam and there legal system that is attached to that ideology called sharia ?
Everything that progressives support here in the US ( Same Sex Marriage )would get them executed in Islamic run country’s like Saudi Arabia and Iran. To name a couple .
I wonder when or if “We The People” will say enough is enough ,
and refuse to pay taxes until this or that is changed ?
2016 will we make it to the next President without another civil war ?
Time to :
Create new political party.
Toss out Estd mindset
Take down DC.
& burn the Tax Code
& dump RINOs.
& then do DEEP Cuts in Govt, physical cuts: layoffs, demotions, early retirements.
A-Z across Wash DC, NO prisoners.
Time to :
Create new political party.
Toss out Estd mindset
Take down DC.
& burn the Tax Code
& dump RINOs.
& then do DEEP Cuts in Govt, physical cuts: layoffs, demotions, early retirements.
A-Z across Wash DC, NO prisoners.