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Category: On the Hill

Budget Deal Clears Procedural Hurdle

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This morning, the bipartisan Budget deal, which would roll back the sharp Sequester spending cuts,  cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate. The vote to invoke cloture — a procedural step that requires a 2/3rds vote ends and signals an end to debate and allows the measure to be voted upon by the Senate — ensures that the agreement will be passed and sent to President Obama in the coming days.

Senators voted 67 to 33 to end debate and proceed to final passage on the budget agreement. A final vote could come as soon as Tuesday evening if Senate Republicans agree to speed things up. Otherwise, the chamber is likely to send the measure to the White House late Wednesday

Murray to Speak on Bipartisan Budget Act Before Crucial Vote

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At 9:50am ET today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) will deliver remarks on the Senate floor urging the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.  Murray will call on members of the Senate to vote to cut off a filibuster on the bipartisan compromise she reached with House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), which passed through the House of Representatives last week by an overwhelming 332-94 majority. The cloture vote is expected shortly following her speech. You can watch Senator Murray speak live on C-SPAN 2.

House Approves Two-Year Budget Framework

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The House passed a budget agreement today by a vote of 332-94. The two-year budget deal, crafted by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), will bring back “regular order” to the annual appropriations process that has eluded Congress for the past couple of years. Lawmakers voted 332-94 on the deal that sets a $1.012 trillion discretionary spending level for FY2014 (current fiscal year) — halfway between the $967 billion sequester level and the far-higher number Democrats were seeking. It also sets a $1.014 trillion for FY2015. It finds savings through recalculating federal workforce pensions and requiring government employees to contribute more toward retirement. With this action, the House is now in recess until after the New Year. The Senate is expected to take up the budget measure next week where is should garner plenty of support for passage.

House to Consider Budget Deal and Farm Bill Extension today

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As Congress begins is last minute push to wrap up loose ends before the holidays, the House is expected to consider the Budget agreement and begin consideration on a 30 day Farm Bill extension today. After the House passes these measures, the legislation will then go to the Senate for consideration.

There is a possibility that a Continuing Resolution to fund the government for the remainder of FY14 will also be considered this week as well as the FY14 National Defense Authorization Act, but it is unclear if those pieces of legislation will actually get considered.

 

House to Consider Budget Deal Thursday

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The House Leadership is expected to consider the Budget deal on Thursday. Although there have been small rumblings of discontent by some Republican House Members with the deal because it does allow funding over Sequester levels, the measure is expected to pass the House. The Senate will consider it soon after.