Final vote on the spending bill

Published



About 16 hours ago, the marathon ended. After all of 583 amendments were either voted on, withdrawn or approved by voice vote, the House passed a fiscal 2011 spending bill that cuts about $60 billion in spending below current levels for the remaining seven months of the current fiscal year. Prorated for the year, that’s about $103 billion.

But even if this exact bill is adopted and signed by President Obama — which is very unlikely — it would only put a small dent in the projected $1.7 trillion deficit for fiscal 2011. The Senate will next have its say, and it is expected to come back with smaller cuts, with a final compromise to worked out in a House-Senate conference committee.

Full midterm coverage.Deeper analysis.

Get unlimited access to Washington Examiner's reporting, expert analysis, and coverage of the midterm elections.

Get Unlimited Access

Cancel anytime.