The bill is due to be voted on in the Senate and the House later today, just hours before a midnight deadline tomorrow for a second government shutdown in less than a month. He added the bill will have an amendment process that’s “fair to all sides”.
Advertisement
Republicans were sidetracked in the fall with tax reform, and Democrats halted headway last month to demand progress on protections for Dreamers, immigrants who had been brought to the USA illegally as children.
That agreement includes a $300 billion increase to both military and non-military spending limits for this year and 2019, and raises the debt until March 1 next year.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program got a four-year extension, and community health centers will see funding increases.
Senate leaders agreed to a massive two-year budget deal on Wednesday. “But we worked hard to find common ground and stay focused on serving the American people. and the agreement will clear the way for new investment in our nation’s infrastructure – a bipartisan priority shared by the president and lawmakers in both parties”.
Passage of the plan would ease the brinkmanship over spending that roils Washington so regularly that financial markets barely flinch anymore at the threat of a government shutdown.
If passed, the bill would then head to the House of Representatives. The House on Tuesday sent the Senate its budget bill, which the Senators expanded into the version announced on Wednesday morning.
Fiscal conservatives like the Freedom Caucus, have also indicated they will vote against the deal due to the increase in new government spending.
But Democratic House minority leader Nancy Pelosi said she would not support the budget without guarantees from Republicans to protect those previously shielded from deportation by DACA.
After its expected approval in the Senate, it will go back to the House for a vote on the changes.
The McConnell-Schumer deal does not include language about immigration or DACA, but McConnell has committed to a floor debate on immigration in the Senate.
The budget agreement “does not have my support, nor does it have the support of a large number of members of our caucus”, Pelosi said, as reported by AP.
“I am all in for the proposal that was explained to me”, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of SC said as he came out of McConnell’s office.
Republicans want at least some border security measures passed along with protections for the immigrants.
Commenting on the deal was Donald Trump who did so in a tweet [VIDEO]sent out on February 7.
“I’d love to see a shutdown if we can’t get this stuff taken care of”, Trump said during a round table with law enforcement at the White House Tuesday afternoon.
Advertisement
Congressional Democrats have consistently opposed treating non-defense and defense programs differently in government funding bills, dimming such a package’s prospects in the Senate, where Republicans will need Democrats’ support to pass a bill.
