The Very Latest
An eleventh hour compromise prevented a government shutdown late Friday night, with White House and congressional negotiators reaching agreement on a spending plan for the remainder of FY11. Details of the FY11 spending agreement (H.R. 1473) came out late last night with the International Affairs Budget mark at $50.1 billion, which is $6.5 billion (-11.4%) below the FY10 adjusted base level and $8.7 billion (-14.8%) below the President’s FY11 request.
While this returns the International Affairs Budget to slightly less than FY09 levels, it marks a better outcome than the deep 19% cuts adopted by the House in H.R. 1 earlier this year. USGLC appreciates the efforts of supporters on Capitol Hill to successfully oppose much more significant cuts to these vital programs. Click here to read our full press statement.
The House and Senate are expected to take up the FY11 spending bill on Thursday. The measure is expected to pass both houses, although several conservative Republicans in the House have already declared they will oppose the measure.
While this will mark the end of the road for the FY11 budget, battles have just begun for FY12. The FY12 budget resolution, which passed the House Budget Committee late last Wednesday on a party-line 22-16 vote, provides $41 billion for the International Affairs Budget, a nearly 30% cut from FY10 levels and 34% lower than President Obama’s FY12 request. The FY12 budget resolution will move to the House floor on Thursday, with a final vote expected Friday.
During House floor consideration, both a Democratic alternative and a Republican alternative resolution will be offered. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the Ranking Member on the Budget Committee, plans to unveil his alternative proposal early tomorrow. His proposal is expected to avoid large cuts to the International Affairs Budget. By contrast, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) alternative would reduce spending beyond the levels in the committee-passed budget resolution. The RSC proposal has no mention of the International Affairs Budget, but it aims to reduce overall non-defense discretionary spending in real terms by 50% over the next decade.
Stay tuned to the Budget Blog for the latest updates.
