–House Expected To Pass Bill To Fund Gov Through March 27
–Senate Set To Consider FY’13 Stop-Gap Next Thursday
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – The House is set to vote Thursday on a stop-gap
spending bill for the 2013 fiscal year that funds the government for six
months.
The House is expected to vote Thursday afternoon or early evening
on the FY’13 stop-gap spending bill that funds the government through
March 27, 2013.
The 2013 fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 and so far Congress has
passed none of the 12 spending bills for FY’13.
Passage of the stop-gap bill ensures that the government will be
funded until next spring, even as high-stakes battles unfold over the
fate of the Bush era tax cuts which expire at the end of the year and
the first round of across-the-board spending cuts scheduled to
begin in January.
After weeks of talks this summer, House Speaker John Boehner and
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reached an agreement in July on the
stop-gap funding bill, deciding to use the $1.047 discretionary spending
limit that was set in the 2011 debt ceiling agreement. Some House
Republicans had wanted to cut spending below the agreed limit to $1.028
trillion.
The Senate is expected to vote next Thursday on the FY’13 stop-gap
spending bill.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch
McConnell signaled Tuesday that the stop-gap would pass the Senate
next week.
** MNI Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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