–House Passes Final FY’11 Spending Bill, 260 to 167
–Senate Expected To Pass Bill Shortly
–House Appropriations Chief: ‘I Just Want This Bill Over With’

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – The House voted Thursday to approve the final
2011 fiscal year spending bill, sending the bill to the Senate.

The House approved the bill on a 260 to 167 vote. The Senate is
expected to vote on the measure shortly.

The House will also vote on two measures that Republican leaders
introduced as part of the budget talks: a bill to block federal funding
of Planned Parenthood and a bill to block funding for the implementation
of last year’s health care law.

The Senate is expected to approve the FY’11 spending bill but
reject the other two measures.

The final FY’11 spending bill would cut spending by $78 billion
below what President Obama first proposed and $38 billion below current
spending levels.

The 2011 fiscal year began on Oct. 1 and the government has run on
seven short-term funding bills.

Congress’ most recent temporary spending bill for the 2011 fiscal
year will keep the federal government funded until Friday.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers concluded the
debate on the House floor on the FY’11 spending bill with a sentiment
that won a smattering of applause and laughter.

“I just want this bill over with,” he said.

The House will now begin debating competing FY’12 spending
outlines.

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan will present the House
GOP’s plan.

Ryan’s budget calls for about $4 trillion in ten year savings from
Medicare, Medicaid, other entitlement programs and discretionary
programs. It also calls for the extension of all the Bush era tax cuts.

Ryan’s plan comes in the form of an FY’12 budget resolution which
is a non-binding congressional blueprint which makes ten year spending
and revenue estimates as well as deficit projections.

House Democrats will offer an alternative FY’12 budget outline as
will a group of conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats.

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

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