–House Set To Okay Stop-Gap Despite Grumbling By GOP Conservatives
–White House, Hill Leaders Say They Hope This Stop-Gap Is Last
–Senate Expected To Take Up New Stop-Gap Later This Week
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – The House Tuesday is expected to approve a
stop-gap spending bill for the 2011 fiscal year that will fund the
government until April 8, but there is a growing call from the White
House and Congress to make this the last temporary spending bill for
FY’11.
The stop-gap bill, largely drafted by House Republicans, will
include $6 billion in spending cuts. These cuts appear acceptable to
congressional Democrats and the White House.
The House is expected to approve the new stop-gap funding bill
Tuesday while the Senate will take up the measure later in the week.
The current stop-gap spending bill funding the government expires
Friday.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Monday said he expects the
stop-gap will be approved, but added that some lawmakers are growing
weary of passing short-term spending bills.
The 2011 fiscal year began on Oct. 1 and the government has run on
five short-term funding bills. The new stop-gap would be the sixth
short-term spending measure.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor Monday said that Republicans want
an “earnest discussion” with the administration on completing the FY11
budget.
Vice President Joe Biden held one round of talks with key
congressional leaders two weeks ago on completing the FY’11 budget, but
was overseas last week and the talks were essentially on hold.
Biden’s talks have been with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner and
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MFU$$$,MCU$$$]
