House Passes $1 Trillion Omnibus

A $1 trillion dollar omnibus bill that would fund the federal governemnt for the next year sailed through the House Friday in a 296-121 vote. 

The bill now awaits Senate approval before heading to President Obama’s desk for signature. 

The bill garnered a surprising amount of Democratic support - more Democrats voted in favor of the omnibus than Republicans, 149 to 147, respectively - despite indications earlier in the week from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that the majority would be on its own. 

The Senate could take up the bill as early as Friday or early Saturday. A Saturday vote is not expected to cause a shutdown, but the House also passed two short-term continuing resolutions as a safety net. One would fund the government for one day, giving the Senate time to consider the bill on Saturday. The second stopgap measure would fund the government through Dec. 23, perhaps in preparation for a political showdown over extending payroll tax cuts. 

The House will likely return to work early next week to finalize a deal on extending payroll relief, unemployment insurance and a “doc fix” patch that prevents doctors who’ve agreed to care for Medicare patients from seeing their income slashed. 

Lawmakers May Pass Temporary Payroll Relief

Both parties appear to be inching towards striking a compromise over an extension of payroll relief, but Senate leaders may put forward a temporary measure to prolong the tax cut by two months if a final deal can’t be reached before thier holiday recess.

A larger deal appeared more likely after Democrats agreed to drop a surtax on millionaires, a provision that the GOP declared dead on arrival. However, key differences remain, including language that would force the administration to move forward on the XL pipeline.

The payroll cut, which reduces payroll taxes from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent, is set to expire on December 31st if a deal is not reached. The White House has stressed that if action is not taken, Americans will pay an additional $1,000 in payroll taxes.

Earlier this week, disagreements over a payroll plan helped trigger zero hour panic over a possible government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) initially asked Senate Democrats to hold-off on signing off on approving conference report for a $1 trillion spending bill that would keep the government operating in an apparent attempt to convince House Republicans to stay in town and negotiate. However, the omnibus bill was agreed to Thursday night.

Shutdown Averted As Leaders Agree On Funding Package

Congress agreed late Thursday evening to move forward on a measure to fund the federal government through the end of next September.

The roughly $1 trillion “omnibus” package had previously been delayed due to Democratic objections over funding for the CFTC, Cuban travel restrictions and new EPA rules.

However, with the clock ticking down on current funding, negotiators were able to reach a deal.

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Senate Passes Defense Bill

 UPDATE- (4:48pm) The Senate passed the Defense Authorization Bill 86-13.

The Senate will likely pass a $662 billion Defense Bill Thursday after the House approved the legislation 282 to 136 Wednesday evening.

The bill has garnered controversy over language relating to the detainment of terror suspects. Under the original language, the military would be required to hold terror suspects in custody, a provision that the White House warned could tie the hands of both the administration and law enforcement officials.

Initially, the White House affirmed they would veto the bill. However, after the language was updated to ensure executive power, they dropped the threat.

Still, some provisions in the bill have garnered continued criticism from civil liberties groups, primarily language that promises “Detention under the law of war without trial until the end of the hostilities” for terror suspects.

In addition, critics expressed concern that the wording of the bill was broad enough to encroach on the rights of American citizens, a fear that lawmakers tried to alleviate by adding text that states “Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities, relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States.”

“The president should more carefully consider the consequences of allowing this bill to become law,” Laura W. Murphy, the Director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office, said in a statement. “We hope that the president will consider the long view of history before codifying indefinite detention without charge or trial.”

The Senate passed the initial version of the legislation, which did not include language aimed at satisfying the White House, earlier this month.

Ban Looks Back at Arab Spring in 2011

The United Nations lent its support to the aspirations of Arab Spring protesters in 2011, speaking forcefully against government repression through out the region and playing an essential role in the liberation of Libya, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said during an end of year press conference today. 

“This has been a remarkable year, in terms of our commitment to help those people who have been oppressed.” he said “Of course more needs to be done. It is quite sad and tragic that so many people have lost their lives and have been wounded in the course of these demonstrations and expressing their freedom of speech and aspirations.”

Ban, who will begin his second term as UN Secretary General in the new year, compared the Arab Spring uprisings to the independence movements of the 1950’s and the unification of Germany in the 1980’s. He said the UN needed to continue engaging with countries affected by important political and social change and urged greater cooperation to address the situation in Syria. 

 “ I hope the United Nations and international community will be able to take constructive and coherent action.” he said, adding that he also welcomed recent steps by the Arab League to condemn the violence. 

 Ban said he was increasingly concerned by humanitarian conditions and recent developments in Syria.

On Monday, after the Security Council was briefed by Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pilay, European and American diplomats blasted other Council members for failing to support a strong resolution against the Assad government.

Pilay reportedly provided Council members with updates on casualty figures, which she says has now reached over 5000, and gave an overview of some of crimes Syrian security forces have carried out against civilians, including the alleged killing of at least 300 children. 

The UN rights chief said she was alarmed by reports of a military build up around the city of Homs, although her office was unable to independently verify that information.

US Deputy Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo said the Security Council’s failure to speak out against the Syrian government crackdown, after both the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly agreed to resolutions, was “unconscionable”,and urged Council members to stand “on the right side of history”.

Russia and China have both already used their veto at the Security Council to block a resolution on Syria. They say the UN has so far placed too much blame on the Assad government while ignoring attacks by armed protesters against security force personnel, and argue some governments are calling for regime change rather than a ceasefire. 

Moscow and Beijing have also said they are concerned a Security Council resolution could open the door to foreign military intervention as was the case in Libya.

Other Security Council members like India and South Africa have also repeatedly criticized the US and Europe for using the the cover of civilian protection in Libya to justify overthrowing the Gaddafi regime.

Ban defended NATO’s implementation of the Libyan resolution in his press conference today. The Secretary General said the UN worked closely with NATO to prevent rights abuses and civilian casualties and that ultimately, the Libyan people had led efforts to oust Gaddafi.