WASHINGTON -- Barring a last-minute impediment, the House Thursday is expected to pass a $982 billion spending package that will avert a federal government shutdown at the end of the month. The Senate approved the measure Wednesday 73-26, with a yes vote by Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and a no vote by Sen. David Vitter, R-La. The bill locks...
WASHINGTON -- Barring a last-minute impediment, the House Thursday is expected to pass a $982 billion spending package that will avert a federal government shutdown at the end of the month.
The Senate approved the measure Wednesday 73-26, with a yes vote by Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and a no vote by Sen. David Vitter, R-La.
The bill locks in some $85 billion in across the board spending cuts for the remainder of the fiscal year, required by the so-called sequester. But it gives some flexibility to some, not all federal agencies, on how to make the cuts. The flexibility, under the Senate bill, is extended to the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Commerce as well as the Food and Drug Administration.
Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter cast conflicting votes Wednesday on Senate budget bill.
One provision enacted by the Senate averts furloughs for meat inspectors at the Department of Agriculture. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said the furloughs would have caused the closure of meat, poultry and egg processing facilities for up to two weeks.
The bill also includes a provision that would block the Postal Service from going ahead this summer with plans to end Saturday postal delivery, except for prescription drugs and next-day delivery packages. It's unclear, however, what authority Congress has over the Postal Service, which does not receive direct federal funds.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called the provision outrageous.
"The Postal Service lost $1.3 billion in the first quarter of this year and recorded a loss of $15.9 billion in fiscal year 2012," McCain said. "So what are we telling them to do? Business as usual."
Among the local items, of interest, was a provision inserted by Landrieu for $335 million for six Fast Response Cutters, which are built at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport. Another Landrieu provision adjusts the criteria for forgiveness of Community Disaster Loans made to Louisiana and Mississippi communities for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The change is expected to make it easier for more Metro New Orleans communities, including the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, to get the disaster loans forgiven.
Landrieu said that she's pleased the bill includes more money than initially proposed for the Coast Guard by the Obama administration.
"I don't have to remind everyone about the oil spill, the terrible accident," Landrieu said in a Senate floor speech. "That trial is still going on in New Orleans as I speak, with hundreds of lawyers still debating the worst oil spill in the history of the country. Who showed up? The Coast Guard."