Senate clears stop-gap spending measure for Obama’s signature (The Hill)
The Senate passed a stop-gap spending measure, allowing government to continuing operating beyond Wednesday, the last day of the fiscal year.
Congress Passes CR, Includes 1 Month Extension for SAFETEA-LU (The Hill)
The continuing resolution, cleared largely along party lines by the Senate on a 62-38 vote, extends funding to government agencies at the levels in the 2009 appropriations bills, which were set to expire at the end of the day. The move was needed because lawmakers have sent only one of the 12 spending bills funding government for 2010 to the president for his signature.
By approving the continuing resolution, lawmakers were avoiding a government shutdown that would be disruptive to hundreds of programs, Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) said. The House approved the same measure last week, and President Obama is expected to sign it Wednesday evening.
Attached to the budget measure was the first of the dozen spending bills to make it through conference and to President Obama, the $4.7 billion legislative branch spending bill, which provides funding for congressional offices.
Also attached was a provision allowing the Postal Service to defer $4 billion in payments to a fund for its future retirees’ health benefits. The agency said the move was necessary to help it pay back a $5.4 billion cash shortfall it expects in 2010.
Republicans largely opposed the spending package, protesting that Democrats put them in the position of either voting for a government shutdown or new spending, neither of which they wanted.They criticized Democrats for proposing a 5.8 percent boost in spending for legislative branch operations and for limiting amendments to the continuing resolution by linking it to a spending bill.
“That flies in the face of the fundamentals upon which the United States Senate functions,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in a floor speech.
By Walter Alarkon – 09/30/09 05:53 PM ET
