Appropriations

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) are combing through the $984 billion government funding bill that is before the Senate and said late Tuesday they intend to detail numerous examples of wasteful spending. 

The lawmakers said they weren't given enough time to read the 500-page measure and had already found pork barrel spending.

The administration urged lawmakers to "promptly" pass the measure, as the bill appeared to hit a snag.

The Senate began debate on the 2013 continuing resolution that would fund the government through the fiscal year.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he expects the Senate to jump the first hurdle to advance the bill Tuesday afternoon.

"We expect to adopt the motion to proceed to this bill this afternoon and begin the amendment process," Reid said Tuesday afternoon. "We’re going to take all amendments and work through them as quick as we can. … I hope we can have votes on every one of them."

Senate Democrats and Republicans on the Appropriations Committee agreed on a $984 billion funding bill to avert a government shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday that he would allow votes on amendments to the Senate continuing resolution bill that is necessary to fund the government through the fiscal year.

“The measure passed last week by the House of Representatives is not perfect," Reid said on the Senate floor Monday. “Senators will wish to offer amendments. And we are working out a process to consider those amendments."

Capitol Hill will be a flurry of fiscal activity this week, as a host of major budget and spending documents are unveiled and considered by lawmakers 

Both parties and chambers will release competing budget documents this week, starting with the House Republican budget set for public consumption on Tuesday. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will host a mark-up of the spending vision Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) intends to roll out a competing proposal Wednesday, the first from Senate Democrats in about four years. A two-day committee markup sets the stage for its passage Thursday.

The intention is for both budgets to receive respective floor votes before Congress breaks for Easter recess beginning March 22.

Their version will tack on three appropriations bills and give the Obama administration greater flexibility on sequestration.

The House Rules Committee on Tuesday evening approved a rule for the 2013 spending bill that will allow no amendments to be considered when the bill comes up later in the week.

The committee approved the closed rule in a typically partisan 9-4 vote.

The accommodating White House stance makes a shutdown less likely even as it may give Democrats less leverage in negotiations.