–House To Pass Stop-Gap Bill Funding Government Until Nov. 18
–House GOP, Senate Dems Differ On Level of Disaster Funds
–Senate Majority Leader Reid Warns of Shutdown Threat

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – The House is expected to pass Wednesday a
stop-gap spending bill that will fund the federal government until Nov.
18 while work continues on the regular spending bills for the 2012
fiscal year.

The stop-gap bill is needed because Congress has not passed any of
the 12 regular spending bills for the new fiscal year that begins Oct.
1.

Congressional leaders have said the main elements of the stop-gap
bill are not in dispute because the overall funding level for
discretionary programs was agreed to earlier this year by the White
House and Congress. That level is $1.043 trillion for discretionary
programs.

However, there is a dispute over the level of emergency funds. The
House GOP supports a package of $3.65 billion in emergency relief while
Senate Democrats support a $6.9 billion package.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Republican, said Tuesday that
Senate Democrats were “playing politics” with the disaster funds.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said House
Republicans are shortchanging needed emergency funding.

Reid went further and said that the dispute over these funds could
lead to a government shutdown.

Reid responded sharply to comments by Senate Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell in which he suggested a deadlock will be averted.

“Exactly how we get from where we are to the end of the trail
Thursday night, I couldn’t tell you, but I can confidently tell you
we’re going to respond with assistance to those who are in need,”
McConnell said.

“There won’t be a government shutdown. Congress always responds
appropriately to disasters. We’re having a discussion about the
appropriate way to do that,” McConnell said.

Reid offered a more pessimistic view.

“I’m not that sure” that a government shutdown will be avoided,
Reid said, arguing that House Republicans and Senate Democrats have
different ideas about how large the emergency assistance package should
be that is attached to the stop-gap bill.

The Senate is likely to take up the stop-gap bill shortly after it
clears the House.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **

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