Shutdown averted: Deal reached on $1T omnibus package

[Chris_]

House and Senate negotiators on Thursday night reached a tentative agreement on a $1 trillion omnibus spending bill that would avert a government shutdown, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee announced.

The 1,200-page legislation funds most of the federal government for the balance of fiscal 2012.

Republican leaders claimed they had a hand-shake agreement earlier in the week, but they said Democratic negotiators refused to sign off because the White House and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) held up the agreement to gain leverage in a separate year-end dispute over the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits.


The Hill


And Congress goes another year without having voted on an annual budget.

[NHSparky]

Can't wait to see Obama try to blame the GOP on this one.

[Eupher]

From a practical point of view, I would've preferred seeing a real, live budget for once. Band-aid omnibus bills continue to feed the Government Monster and its insatiable appetite for spending money.

OTOH, as Sparky points out, this does not look good for Dingy Harry and his Merry Band of Thieves.

Is there any wonder why the approval rating for Congress is at a miniscule 13%? Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro might rank lower, but not by much.

WaPo

[CG6468]

House OKs $1T budget bill eliminating White House 'czars'
BY DAVID SHEPARDSON DETROIT NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU 2 COMMENTS
Washington— The U.S. House approved a $1 trillion spending bill on a 296-121 vote to fund the federal government through Sept. 30. As part of a compromise struck late Thursday, the measure prohibits administration "czars" to oversee health care reform, climate change, the auto industry and urban affairs.

The Senate is expected to pass the 1,200-page measure that funds 10 cabinet agencies Saturday.

Michigan's House delegation split 10-5 in favor of the resolution.

Opposing the measure were Reps. Thad McCotter, R-Livonia; Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township; Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit; Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland; and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton.

But Democrats and Republicans are still debating whether to extend a cut in payroll taxes set to expire Dec. 31 for 160 million Americans, extend emergency unemployment insurance and increase Medicare reimbursement payments to doctors. Republicans are insisting on a provision aimed at speeding approval of a controversial energy pipeline from Canada.

Czars, czars, nowhere?

[a777pilot]

That's too bad.  I was hoping for a Christmas present of a total government shut down.

[TVDOC]

That's too bad.  I was hoping for a Christmas present of a total government shut down.

I can certainly agree with that, however, with the MSM on the Dems side, the Republicans will get the blame, just like last time, so overall it's a poor political decision in an election year.

When we get a Republican in the WH, and solid majorities in both houses, the necessary budget work can be done.  Political pragmatist that I am, I think that winning next year is far more important than any short-term fiscal compromises.  This omnibus bill also only funds the government until next September......placing the budget battle firmly in the last days of the election......a huge political plus.

You should note that there were some major "caves" from the liberals in congress, and the WH.......mysteriously about the middle of last week the "tax the rich" mantra in the media and from the Dems just disappeared......gone.......not a peep. 

Forcing a decision to proceed with the pipeline project is also included.

All in all, it was a nice piece of political strategy from the Speaker and the Repubs in the HoR.



doc