Senate hopes to end years of spending gridlock

The Senate next week embarks on an unusual strategy that could result in the passage of most of the 2019 federal government spending in one bill, and before fiscal year-end deadline.

Lawmakers agreed to begin debate on a bill that would fund the nation’s massive defense budget as well as the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The legislation couples two major, unrelated appropriations bills in a “must-pass” package that lawmakers hope will end years of spending gridlock.