Appropriations Process Slows in Senate
It looks like partisan politics may be impacting Congress again, but this time instead of healthcare, it may affect the appropriations process in the Senate. Coming on the heels of the Senate Finance Committee vote to report out the Baucus Healthcare bill, Senate consideration of the Commerce-Justice-Science bill hit a snag as a vote to invoke cloture failed along party lines. With the amendment process stalled, it will probably take longer for the Senate to pass this bill and the other four remaining appropriations bills, including the critical $48.7 billion FY10 State, Foreign Ops bill.
Meanwhile, the Senate plans to take up the Energy-Water conference report passed last week in the House. Once passed, it will be the third bill ready for the President’s signature. So far, only two bills have been sent to the White House, Legislative Branch and Agriculture. The Legislative Branch bill was signed by the President on October 1st, and included a stop-gap funding measure to keep the federal government open until October 31st. Only two and half weeks remain for Congress to complete the FY10 Appropriations process. Congress will almost certainly have to pass another continuing resolution.
