Senate Republican leaders have for a second time postponed a vote on a government funding package because an agreement has not been reached with Democrats, who are complaining about a campaign finance provision, among other problems.
“We are still in discussions,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters Tuesday. “I think we are close to finalizing an agreement that we can go to the floor on.”
The two parties are wrangling over the details of legislation that would fund the government through Dec. 9 and provide $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he is opposed by GOP efforts to attach a provision to the package that would block the Securities and Exchange Commission from forcing public corporations from disclosing campaign donations.
An aide to McConnell said the SEC language would be automatically carried over in the temporary spending bill lawmakers are hoping to pass, because the bill would extend the fiscal 2016 law. Reid’s demand would require a change in the current law.
“We are not going to have this bill become a pincushion for McConnell’s desire to have nothing reported dealing with campaign spending,” Reid said Tuesday after meeting privately with Democratic lawmakers. “This is not time for a big debate on campaign finance spending.”
The provision blocking the SEC was attached to fiscal 2016 spending legislation and expires on Sept. 30.
It is among other issues Democrats and Republicans continue to spar over in their effort to pass a bill before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30 and government funding runs out.
According to Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the two parties are still negotiating the wording of the bill that determines which Puerto Rican health clinics can gain access to Zika funding. Democrats want to ensure the money is available to Planned Parenthood, which provides health services and abortions.
“I don’t think it’s nailed down,” Durbin said. “What we are trying to do is find alternatives that Republicans will find acceptable.”
Durbin said Democrats “are adamant that the Planned Parenthood language is unacceptable” as written, because they believe it excludes them from accessing the funds.
Democrats are also resisting a move by Republicans to delay the transfer of Internet IP addresses to a global corporation, which is set to take place under President Obama’s orders on Sept. 30.
Many Republicans want to delay the move out of concern that Internet freedom and security could be in jeopardy if the United States is no longer in control.
But Durbin said excluding a provision that would block the move is “our position and the president’s position.”
Durbin said Obama also wants to exclude additional funding in response to the Louisiana flood damage or to aide Flint, Mich., where lead has contaminated the water supply.
Durbin said Democrats want to move those negotiations to the lame duck session following the election.
