CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS – APPROPRIATIONS
Nov. 8, 2011 – 8:57 p.m.
As Conference Continues on First ‘Minibus,’ Reid Readies Action on a Second
By Kerry Young, CQ Staff
Majority Leader
The Nevada Democrat announced his plan for a second “minibus” (
Reid filed for cloture on a motion to proceed to the measure, with a vote scheduled for Thursday.
There is some doubt about how quickly the second minibus will proceed.
“The climate changes every hour,” Appropriations Chairman
Majority Whip
And House aides to both parties have said Congress may end up clearing fiscal 2012 spending bills in two measures — the first minibus (
Lawmakers want to clear the first minibus next week, because it is expected to include stopgap language to keep the government operating through mid-December with the current continuing resolution for fiscal 2012 (PL 112-36) set due expire Nov. 18.
“I hope that’s the case,” Reid said of the ability of conferees to complete negotiations by next week. “I certainly think it’s doable.”
‘Flashing Yellow Lights’
Democrats
Another point of contention among the conferees is a provision that would revive an expired loan limit for mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, raising the cap back to $729,750 from $625,500.
As Conference Continues on First ‘Minibus,’ Reid Readies Action on a Second
Frances Symes, Niels Lesniewski and Ben Weyl contributed to this story.