Republicans Begin Planning
For Omnibus Spending Bill
October 10, 2003 - In an effort to complete the FY
2004 appropriations process by the end of October, GOP leaders
reportedly are making plans to wrap six appropriations bills
into an omnibus spending package that would be considered
by House-Senate negotiators the week of Oct. 20.
Most of the federal government is currently operating under
a continuing resolution (CR) (H.J.Res.
69 - PL
108-84) that expires Oct. 31. The CR is needed because
only three of the 13 regular appropriations bills have been
enacted; another four are in conference.
House appropriators reportedly will draft a new CR - to be
passed by both the House and Senate and then sent to conference
committee the week of Oct. 20 - that will incorporate the
six House-passed bills that the Senate has not yet considered.
These include the VA-HUD-Independent Agencies bill (H.R.
2861).
Appropriators in the House and Senate are now focused on
completing work on President Bush's $87 billion supplemental
budget request for Iraq and Afghanistan. The House hopes to
pass its version of the supplemental the week of Oct. 13;
Senate leaders are hoping to finish by Oct. 17. This leaves
little time for the Senate to consider individual spending
bills by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, the House Oct. 2 appointed conferees for the Labor-HHS-Education
appropriations bill (H.R.
2660) after voting 221 to 203 on an amendment by Rep.
David Obey (D-Wis.) to instruct the conferees to agree with
the Senate-passed amendment to prohibit the Administration
from implementing changes in the regulations governing overtime
pay. House and Senate negotiators on the Labor-HHS bill reportedly
are working with a spending ceiling of $138.1 billion -- $75
million more than the House's original subcommittee allocation.
Information:
Dave Moore, Senior Associate Vice President
AAMC Government Relations
dbmoore@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
Get Washington Highlights
in your Inbox!
| 
