Last night the House voted down the continuing resolution (CR) that would have kept the federal government running for seven weeks beyond the end of the fiscal year. The 195-230 vote represented lack of support from both Democrats and Republicans. Democrats objected to a provision in the bill that would have cut funding from a Department of Energy manufacturing loan program in order to offset funding for disaster relief. On the other side of the aisle, 48 Republicans voted against the bill because it proposed spending levels for FY12 that were higher than the cap set in the Republican budget earlier this year.
The fiscal year ends on September 30, and Congress is scheduled to be in recess next week. The House is expected to consider another CR today, but House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA) told members to be prepared to work through the weekend.
We will keep you posted on any developments.
Nancy Conneely, Public Policy Manager
Tags: appropriations, budget, Congress, funding