Senate Republicans make move to reopen government with new spending deal
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Senate Republicans have unveiled a key piece of the puzzle in their proposal to reopen the government and plan to move forward with a vote on Sunday.
While both parties still appear to be deadlocked on extending expiring Obamacare subsidies, sequesters have moved forward with a package of spending bills that Republicans hope will jump-start the government funding process and end the 40-day government shutdown.
The Senate Appropriations Committee released the three-bill spending package, known as the minibus, on Sunday afternoon. Lawmakers are still awaiting text for an updated continuing resolution (CR); If this decision is accepted, it is expected to reopen the government by the end of January.
It includes legislation to fund military construction and the VA, the legislature and agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Senate in Limbo WHEN THUNE’S EYES CLOSING IS LONG DISTANCE TO THE END
Senate Republicans hope the newly announced spending bill could be the key to reopening the government. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) plans to put the bill and Democrats’ resolve to the test. (Pete Kiehart/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Senate Republicans view the package as a sweetener that they hope will attract enough Senate Democrats to break the gridlock and move toward reopening the government. Given that the minivan is largely a bipartisan product, lawmakers believe it could be successful.
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After spending several weeks encouraging Senate Democrats to vote against the original continuing resolution (CR) that passed the House, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) has made clear over the past few days that he will not introduce a bill that does not have the votes to pass.
“There will be something to vote on, let’s put it that way,” Thune said.
