–Senate Majority Leader: Need To Pass Short-Term Spending Bill This Wk
–Sen. Reid: Then Eager To ‘Move On To A Long-Term’ Spending Bill
–Senate Minority Leader: Expects Senate To Pass Stop-Gap
–Sen. McConnell: Then Time To ‘Negotiate A Final Agreement’ on FY’11
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – In back to back briefings, Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday
said they expect the Senate to pass a short-term spending bill this
week, adding that passage of this bill should trigger negotiations for a
final FY’11 spending bill.
The House will vote around 3 p.m. on a stop-gap spending bill for
the 2011 fiscal year that will fund the government until April 8.
The stop-gap bill, largely drafted by House Republicans, will
include $6 billion in spending cuts.
The House is expected to approve the new stop-gap funding bill
Tuesday afternoon, sending it to the Senate for its consideration later
in the week.
The current stop-gap spending bill expires Friday.
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.
At his briefing, Reid said he’s eager for the Senate to follow the
House and pass the stop-gap spending bill and “move on to a long-term
CR” that would fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year.
Reid said that he supports some cuts in spending but opposes
draconian reductions. “We got to work it as smoothly as we can,” he
said, referring to the pace of implementing spending cuts.
McConnell, speaking moments earlier, said he was optimistic the
Senate will pass the stop-gap bill that funds the government until April
8.
“I believe the short-term (spending bill) is going to pass this
week,” he said.
After this occurs, the administration and Congress should
“negotiate a final agreement for the balance of the fiscal year,”
McConnell said.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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