Reid: Senate has unanimous consent to take up spending deal

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) confirmed Thursday that every senator has agreed to allow the Senate to proceed to a vote on last week’s spending deal as soon as it clears the House.

The unanimous consent agreement was reached even though some senators plan to vote against the legislation, which would cut $39.9 billion from this year’s spending.

“I am very appreciative that we were able to get the consent agreement to move forward for after we get the papers from House,” an appreciative Reid said from the Senate floor.  

The Senate will also vote on two resolutions: one to block federal funds from Planned Parenthood, the other to defund the new healthcare law. Reid agreed to hold the votes, which both need the support of 60 senators to move forward, as part of a deal with House Republicans.

The House is expected to cast its votes this afternoon, with the Senate hoping to receive the legislation around 4 p.m. The legislation is expected to clear both chambers.

Reid said that that the budget had already been “talked to death” in the Senate and that there would be no debate once the resolutions arrived from the House.

“I think everybody realizes we have talked about it enough,” said Reid.