–Despite Grumbling By GOP Conservatives, House Passes 271 to 158
–Senate Expected To Take Up New Stop-Gap In Coming Days
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – The House passed Tuesday a stop-gap spending
bill for the 2011 fiscal year that will fund the government until April
8.
The stop-gap bill, largely drafted by House Republicans, will
include $6 billion in spending cuts. These cuts are acceptable to
congressional Democrats and the White House.
The House passed the bill Tuesday on a 271 to 158 votes. In the
vote, 104 Democrats and 54 Republicans opposed the short-term spending
bill for opposite reasons.
House Democrats said the bill cuts spending too much while House
Republicans say it does not cut spending enough.
In recent days, there has been a growing call from the White House
and Congress to make this the last temporary spending bill for FY’11.
The 2011 fiscal year began on Oct. 1 and the government has run on
five short-term funding bills. The new stop-gap would be the sixth
short-term spending measure.
Now that the House has approved the new stop-gap funding bill, the
measure goes to the Senate which will take it up later in the week.
The current stop-gap spending bill funding the government expires
Friday.
Speaking about an hour ago, both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said they expect the Senate
to pass the stop-gap bill this week.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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