Republicans joined Democrats to pass on Wednesday the $77.3 billion appropriations bill for military construction and veterans affairs.

Senate Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement Wednesday on a small-business lending and tax-cut measure over the number and type of amendments that each side wanted considered. 

The Senate's leaders objected to each other's requests to move forward on the measure tonight. Without an agreement on amendments, there most likely aren't enough votes to end debate on the measure. 

A cloture vote on the substitute amendment to the bill is planned for Thursday morning. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Republicans had initially asked for only three amendments but upped that number today on the floor. 

"This is the proverbial stall of the year," Reid said. 

A bill that would create a new searchable online database of earmark requests got a bipartisan recommendation from the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Republican members of the House Rules Committee on Wednesday criticized Ways and Means Chairman Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) for giving them 90 minutes to review a bill before having to vote on whether it would be subjected to debate on the chamber floor tomorrow.

House Ways and Means Chairman Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) on Wednesday introduced legislation aimed at closing several tax breaks used by U.S. multinational companies. 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Wednesday said the scheduled tax increase on wealthier taxpayers will not harm the economy.

The fate of a small-business lending and tax-cut measure could rest on whether Senate Democrats and Republicans agree to consider an amendment that would repeal a portion of the new healthcare law, aiming to reduce required tax filings by small businesses. 

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Republican Conference, on Wednesday called the amendment a “priority of the Republican leadership.” 

“We’ve made it clear to Sen. Reid that we want a vote on it,” Alexander told reporters this afternoon. “We need a vote on this before the August recess, it’s that important.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Wednesday said legislation by Ways and Means Chairman Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) that increases taxes on U.S. multinational firms will hit the floor by the end of the week.