From now until December 20, Congress has a full plate of issues to deal with before the Republican trifecta takes hold of political Washington in January. All the items on the agenda are fraught with varying levels of political risk.
A stopgap government funding bill that includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill easily passed the GOP-controlled House Tuesday after Democrats more than made up for the desertion of hardline GOP conservatives who were unhappy the legislation includes no spending cuts. The Senate approved a similar bill Wednesday night.
Top Senate negotiators have yet to agree to a deal on a short-term funding bill to keep the federal government open. But both Democratic and GOP leaders believe the issue will be resolved today, just one day before the end of the fiscal year.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has formally filed cloture on the continuing resolution to fund federal agencies through Dec. 16. That normally means a cloture vote – ie can we start debate on the bill or not - on Friday.
But Schumer’s move is really designed to keep up the pressure on Republicans to continue negotiating. Some GOP senators are seeking amendment votes, although this hasn’t been agreed to yet.
Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are still trying to work to set a time for the CR vote. It’s in both McConnell and Schumer’s interest to schedule a quick vote on the funding bill so lawmakers can get back home to campaign. Schumer has threatened to bring senators back into session in October, although there’s doubt in both parties that he will actually do so.