The Senate voted Tuesday to proceed to a bill that will fund the government through mid-December, even though there’s no spending deal yet, and the legislation therefore hasn’t been finalized.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that talks between the two parties are productive, and said a final agreement could come “very soon,” but is not ready yet. The bill is also expected to fund the nation’s response to the Zika virus.
With no final deal, senators voted to pass a legislative “shell” for the legislation that many lawmakers had expected would pass the Senate as early as last week.
Democrats and Republicans have blamed each other for the delay. Democrats say Republicans have refused to remove “poison-pill” riders that would allow mosquito spraying near water and would prevent Planned Parenthood clinics in Puerto Rico from accessing Zika funding.
Republicans say Democrats keep adding objections to the legislation and are taking their time to delay the GOP’s return to the campaign trail.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for example, wants to add a provision that would change current law and allow the Securities and Exchange Commission to require public companies to disclose campaign spending.
Despite the disagreements, McConnell is insisting a deal is close at hand. “We just had another good conversation with our members and are now prepared to proceed to this bill that will be used as a shell for the [legislation],” McConnell said before the vote.
“Members are continuing to work toward an agreement on that legislation and we all hope to have that completed and available for review very soon. With cooperation, we can get that done and begin debate.”
