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. 

Boehner, GOP Adamant On Keystone Provision

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Friday that House Republicans are adamant about including the Keystone XL pipeline provision in a broader plan to extend the payroll tax holiday. 

Senate leaders are looking to pass a two-month extension of the tax relief before the end of the year, a measure that has reportedly been met with bipartisan support. 

However, Boehner told rank-and-file Republicans at a Friday morning conference meeting that if the upper chamber sends the House a two-month extension, he plans to amend it with the Keystone XL pipeline provision, a key component that Democrats have snarled at in recent weeks. 

In a separate debate to keep the government funded past Friday, the House plans to pass a $1 trillion dollar omnibus bill. The Senate is also expected to pass the nine bill omnibus, but because it cannot be enrolled in time to prevent a partial shutdown, the House has prepared a one-week continuing resolution that provides Congress with a cushion to keep things running. 

Boehner said that he plans to let members return home Friday for the holidays, but it is likely members will return for work early next week to finalize a deal extending payroll tax relief for Americans.

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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Pelosi: GOP On Their Own In Omnibus Vote

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned GOP leaders in the House that if they plan to vote on a $1 trillion omnibus bill this week, they can do it without the support of House Democrats.

“I hope they have the votes for it, because if they don’t’, they won’t be getting any cooperation from us,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press briefing. 

House Republican leaders are expected to bring the omnibus to the floor without Democratic support. This could be an uphill battle for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) who has had trouble winning the votes of some rank-and-file Republicans on a number of occasions throughout the year. 

With the end of the week fast approaching, the threat of yet another government shutdown looms over Congress. One option that would essentially serve as Plan B for Congress is the potential for passing a short-term continuing resolution that would keep the government funded into next week, giving the legislative body more time to work out their differences with the current payroll package.

Pelosi said that a shutdown was, in fact, possible but that there were many avenues available that would work to avoid it. 

“It’s only a decision that Republicans have to make that they want to avoid a shutdown by coming to the table and coming to their sense about what is fair to get the job done, to get results for the American people, instead of creating a crisis,” Pelosi said. 

Pelosi stood by the White House’s threat to veto the bill, saying “our caucus supports the president if he wants to veto the bill because of some of the provisions that are in there. We won’t be voting for a bill that has them.”

“It’s like someone saying to her fiancé, ‘Yes, I’ll finally marry you, but I can only do that on Feb. 30,’” Pelosi said. “That day is never coming, nor is the day coming when the president will sign the that Republicans passed.”