House delays health spending bill

House appropriators have indefinitely postponed consideration of the 2012 spending bill for health programs, which had been scheduled for Friday morning.

The decision was made because the Transportation Appropriations panel is currently considering several amendments and might have to continue its mark-up tomorrow, an appropriations staffer said. House rules don't allow for two spending bills to be marked up simultaneously.

The House has proposed allocating a little more than $139 billion for health, education and labor programs for the fiscal year, starting Oct. 1. Senate appropriators, meanwhile, announced Wednesday that their allocation will top $157 billion, $23 billion less than President Obama's budget request — and $300 million below this year's budget — but still considerably more than the House.