McConnell sets up energy spending bill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is turning the Senate toward taking up its first appropriations bill of the year.
The Republican leader filed cloture on proceeding to a House bill that senators will use as a vehicle for their energy and water appropriations bill.
{mosads}The move comes after McConnell told reporters the Senate would start work on appropriations bills next week.
“Probably starting with energy and water, and we’ll mark these bills to the top line that we agreed to in the [budget] agreement last year,” he said Tuesday at a weekly press conference.
The Senate’s work comes as Republicans are expected to miss an April 15 deadline to pass a budget resolution.
McConnell said this week that the Senate is waiting to see if the House is able to pass a budget. House Republicans, meanwhile, are increasingly saying no vote is likely this year.
While the Senate Republican leader has said his party will try to pass a budget, vulnerable Republicans have suggested it isn’t necessary. The Senate’s budget “vote-a-rama” — in which lawmakers can require a vote on any amendment — could have forced vulnerable incumbents to make tough votes ahead of the November election.
Instead, McConnell has focused on getting the 12 appropriations bills passed.
Democrats have been quick to mock the GOP budget troubles this week, arguing Republicans are breaking a “pledge” to pass an annual budget.
Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) suggested Republicans “shed crocodile tears” when the Democrats controlled the Senate and didn’t pass a budget.
“This Republican Congress will not meet tomorrow’s deadline,” he added. “We’ve known that for some time, and by all indications, they have no intention to do anything to pass a budget resolution any time soon.”
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