Congress sent President Barack Obama a short-term spending bill to keep the government open through next Wednesday as lawmakers and the White House rushed to finalize a $1.1 trillion government-wide spending bill and a sprawling tax package. Lawmakers have been scrambling for the past few weeks to put together a budget deal as the government’s current funding was set to run out by 12:01 a.m. EST, Saturday.
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The Senate passed the temporary funding measure on a voice vote Thursday, and the House followed suit today.
Republicans are seeking to lift the oil export ban and various financial and environmental regulations, and also want to address security concerns about Syrian refugees, while Democrats want to protect administration environmental and labor rules. House GOP leaders have indicated they hope to introduce the final text of the legislation on Monday.
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. “Republicans and Democrats in Congress have had ample time to negotiate this agreement”, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday.
“We’re not going to get everything we want in negotiations”.
Most people in Washington have said they are confident Congress will avoid a government shutdown before the body adjourns for the year December 18.
The House had been expected to vote before leaving town on final passage of a budget bill that would have repealed key sections of Obamacare and stripped federal funding from Planned Parenthood.
“It is our intention to have our work done and not need to pass any further CRs”, McCarthy said in an exchange on the House floor.
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She said Republicans could pass their tax plan separately from the spending bill without Democratic votes, adding, “We will not be accomplices”.
