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Shutdown averted: Deal reached on $1T omnibus package

1/3/2012 10:15:49 AM

 

By Russell Berman - 12/15/11 09:20 PM ET

House and Senate negotiators on Thursday night reached a tentative agreement on a $1 trillion omnibus spending bill that would avert a government shutdown, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee announced. 

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said he expected the conference report to be filed later Thursday for a vote in both chambers Friday.

“I am hopeful that the House and Senate can pass this bill tomorrow to prevent a government shutdown, fund critical programs and services for the American people, and cut spending to help put the nation’s finances on a more sustainable path,” Rogers said in a statement. “In spite of many unnecessary obstacles, it is good to see that responsible leadership and good governance can triumph.”

The 1,200-page legislation funds most of the federal government for the balance of fiscal 2012.

Republican leaders claimed they had a hand-shake agreement earlier in the week, but they said Democratic negotiators refused to sign off because the White House and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) held up the agreement to gain leverage in a separate year-end dispute over the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits. Democrats said some issues remained unresolved, including travel restrictions with Cuba.

The House GOP had planned to try to advance a stand-alone version of the omnibus unilaterally on Friday, but Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi warned them they'd get no support from her party.

Now Republicans expect bipartisan support for the official conference committee report.

Congressional leaders were still trying to hammer out an agreement on the payroll tax Thursday night.