Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
WASHINGTON--The U.S. Senate looked set to pass a $1.1 trillion spending bill but it might need a few days to overcome procedural hurdles before voting on legislation that averts a government shutdown and ends jitters over major budget standoffs until next fall.
After the House of Representatives narrowly approved the bill late on Thursday following a battle that exposed fraying unity in President Barack Obama's Democratic Party, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid hoped the bill would pass on Friday to spare Americans the drama of yet another budget crisis.
Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell labored to steer the massive spending bill toward passage late Friday but it was unclear whether they could get it done without delay.
Any senator can hold up the vote. For example, Republican Ted Cruz, a fierce opponent of Obama's executive order offering relief from the threat of deportation to millions of undocumented immigrants, told reporters he wanted proceedings to include an up or down vote on funding the order. Cruz said he would use every tool available to bring about such a vote.
However, while there could be some opposition to the spending measure from both the left flank of the Democrats and some Republicans, it appeared it would garner the votes needed to overcome procedural blocks. Procedural delays could bring a final vote Monday morning at the latest, according to aides. Lawmakers were making arrangements to extend temporary federal funds, now set to expire at midnight Saturday, until midnight Wednesday. That would give the Senate the time it needs to sweep away procedural roadblocks, pass the bill and ready it for Obama's signature.
A revolt over financial provisions by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, long a staunch Obama ally, led to a day of tension on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Democrats, aware of the need for unity when Republicans take full control of Congress next year after their midterm election gains, tried to tamp down speculation of a lasting split between Obama and Pelosi. One leadership aide said Pelosi had fired a warning shot to Republicans that House Democrats would fight hard in the new year.
The House vote was delayed for seven hours after Democrats balked at provisions to roll back part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, an early legislative achievement of the Obama administration that was passed in response to the 2008 financial crisis and aimed to rein in risk-taking by Wall Street. Democrats also objected to a provision allowing bigger political donations.
Reid urged quick passage of the bill, saying, "Since 2011 we have lurched from crisis to crisis with the country constantly under the threat of shutdown or financial catastrophe."
