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Senate invokes cloture on omnibus bill
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12/12/09 12:14 PM ET
The Senate moved one step closer to passing a $447 billion omnibus
appropriations bill Saturday morning after lawmakers voted to quickly end debate
on the measure 60 to 34.
Overcoming that procedural hurdle sets up a Sunday vote on final passage of the massive spending bill and marks the second consecutive working weekend for weary senators focused on wrapping up the must-pass appropriations bill before the holiday recess.
Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also failed to reach agreement on a proposal to vote on four healthcare-related amendments at the end of the week. The Senate will likely hold off on those amendments until next week, further diminishing the time left for passing a healthcare bill before the Christmas-week Senate break.
The House voted Thursday to approve the half-dozen spending bills lumped into one package. That bill passed 221 to 202, with 28 Democrats joining all 174 Republicans present in opposing it. Republicans griped that the measure was too large and introduced late in the week to avoid public scrutiny, especially considering the nearly 5,000 earmarks worth $3.9 billion it contains.
Late Friday Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) accused Democrats of breaking their own pledge to provide at least 72 hours of public scrutiny for the final version of bills before they are voted on. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) defended the Democrats’ record. House leaders, he said, were trying to push through a flurry of must-pass bills before adjourning for the year, which left little time for abiding by the so-called 72-hour rule.
Responding to Cantor’s inquiries, Hoyer said Democrats would provide 72 hours whenever they could, but the omnibus measure was a necessary exception.
The package includes the bill providing federal funding for D.C., the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill; the Commerce-Justice-State bill; the Labor-HHS-Education bill; the military construction-Veterans Affairs bill; and the State-foreign operations bill.
The only measure excluded was the bill funding the Pentagon. Leaders deliberately left it out so they could use it for a vehicle for other high-priority items the House will turn to next week. Democratic leaders will likely tack on all or part of the job-creation package President Obama has requested, as well as an increase in the federal debt limit.
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