"Watch the Budget"
Senate hopes to end years of spending gridlock
The Senate next week embarks on an unusual strategy that could result in the passage of most of the 2019 federal government spending in one bill, and before fiscal year-end deadline.
Lawmakers agreed to begin debate on a bill that would fund the nation’s massive defense budget as well as the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The legislation couples two major, unrelated appropriations bills in a “must-pass” package that lawmakers hope will end years of spending gridlock.
If the bill is approved later this month, it would be an historic moment for the Senate, which passed no spending bills on time in 2018 and has not passed a Labor, Health and Human Services bill on time in 15 years.
“Now we need to keep up the collaboration,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said after lawmakers agreed to begin debate on the bill to overcome the first legislative hurdles. “There’s a reason why it’s been quite some time since we’ve completed a full, regular appropriations process.”
Lawmakers are hoping to avoid stalling the bill with partisan amendments that would prevent final passage. They have an informal agreement to avoid “poison pill” provisions that would draw opposition from either party, such as the defunding of Planned Parenthood, which has stalled past bills.
The two parties took a step toward avoiding the usual clashes by negotiating an agreement on which amendments should get a vote.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., told the Washington Examiner he came up with the plan to link the two bills as a way of skirting the usual spending stalemate when they are considered separately.
“I thought that since these are the two big items in appropriations that, although different, if we can put them together, it is different, but possible,” to pass them.
Leaders agreed to put $675 billion in Pentagon funding together with the other provisions, including a $179 billion package for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
The bill boosts defense spending by $20.4 billion over 2018 levels, part of which is dedicated to a 2.6 percent pay increase for military personnel and 1.9 percent raise for civilian defense workers. It provides $135 billion to modernize the nation’s military capabilities and $24 billion for shipbuilding, among other spending.
Outside of defense, the legislation boosts by $2.3 billion funding for the Department of Health and Human Services and adds a $541 million increase to the Department of Education. All told, the legislation provides more than half of all anticipated fiscal 2019 federal spending.
The fiscal year ends Sept. 30 and that is when government funding runs out unless Congress acts.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate-hopes-to-end-years-of-spending-gridlock