The United States Congress passed a bill to avert a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday and to provide more time to reach agreement on the budget.
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Congressional leaders had hoped to pass a $US1.15 trillion bill funding the full fiscal year 2016 by Friday, but have been bogged down for weeks over which policy measures, known as “riders”, will be included in the bill. Disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over the environment, taxes and Syrian refugees have stalled the measure.
The Senate voted without debate Thursday to extend the deadline through Wednesday to allow for more discussion.
Congress is slated to adjourn for the year by the end of next week, and finishing the huge omnibus spending bill is the last big priority before lawmakers head home for the holidays.
House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015.
“Not every piece of legislation we’re going to agree on every part of it. But i think the underlying legislation we present today is a product of bipartisan cooperation and compromise and give and take”, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma said Friday.
Pelosi, who said both sides were working towards a spending deal, said many House Democrats would not support a deal to make some breaks permanent that did not index earned income and child tax credits to inflation.
“I’m not going to put a deadline on it”, he said.
Congress had until December 11 to pass the appropriations bill to fund the government.
Unable to agree on the longer term spending bill, lawmakers instead chose to buy more time with the five-day extension. Democrats oppose those GOP efforts and are pushing to lift the ban on gun violence research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he doesn’t expect first votes on the bill until Tuesday night.
