This afternoon, the Senate failed to get the 60 votes necessary to invoke cloture, or limit debate, on the expected legislative vehicle for a 10-week continuing resolution (CR). The measure funds the government until December 9th as well as includes emergency spending to combat the Zika virus; $500 million in flood relief for Louisiana and other states; and full-year appropriations for military construction and veterans programs, among other contents. Without cloture, the Senate cannot move forward procedurally with a stopgap needed to keep the government funded past Friday September 30.
Senate Democrats overwhelmingly voted against the measure because it contains no funds for Flint, MI to repair its lead-contaminated water system. Top Senate Democrats said they would not settle for a commitment from Republicans to include the money during a conference committee consideration of a water resources bill that has passed the Senate and is being considered in the House this week.
Following the vote, Senate Republicans said they are weighing the possibility of dropping flood relief for Louisiana and other states from the package in order to meet Democratic demands and avoid a government shutdown at the end of the week.
On the House side, House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) stated that the House will “have a response” if the Senate’s procedural vote on the continuing resolution is rejected this afternoon. In addition, on Monday night the House Rules Committee advanced a rule for a water resources authorization bill that includes language providing “same-day authority” through September 30 to speed consideration of a CR. The Rules Committee last week had already granted same-day authority, otherwise known as “martial law,” through Tuesday.
House and Senate Lawmakers will now have to head back to the negotiating table and hash out a deal palatable enough to garner 60 votes in the Senate that would also pass through the House before Friday at midnight.