Republicans controlling the Senate have unveiled a government-wide, $1.4 trillion spending bill.
It's a mostly bipartisan measure that faces uncertain odds during this period of post-election tumult in Washington.
The bill contains funding for President Trump’s border wall and other provisions opposed by Democrats.
At issue is the roughly one-third of the federal budget that is written annually by Congress under a time-tested bipartisan process. The overall spending amount has been set in law by last year’s bipartisan budget mini-deal, so any delay into next year won’t likely result in more money for the Biden administration. Current funding expires Dec. 12.
The 12 spending measures, released by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., have been stalled for months, trapped by fights over COVID relief and potential battles over police reform issues. But he has the backing of top panel Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York to at least pursue the effort. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., herself a long-ago veteran of the Appropriations Committee, also would like to wrap up the unfinished business.
“By and large, these bills are the product of bipartisan cooperation among members of the committee,” Shelby said in a statement. “Time after time, we have demonstrated our willingness to work together and get the job done. We have before us the opportunity to deliver for the American people once again.”
Leaders in both parties want to try to enact unfinished spending bills - which, along with a separate COVID relief effort and annual defense policy bill, represent the bulk of Capitol Hill’s unfinished business.
But that depends on getting Trump's signature. And lame-duck sessions conducted as the White House is turning over usually don't get much done.
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