McConnell backs ‘clean’ stopgap spending bill through Dec. 20

November 19, 2019 3oliver

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellLawmakers skeptical of progress on spending deal as wall battle looms Impeachment battle looms over must-pass defense bill ‘Saturday Night Live’ presents Trump impeachment hearings with ‘pizzazz’ of soap opera MORE (R-Ky.) on Monday threw his support behind a “clean” stopgap bill to fund the government through Dec. 20, saying it could pass the chamber and get President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump reversed course on flavored e-cigarette ban over fear of job losses: report Trump to award National Medal of Arts to actor Jon Voight Sondland notified Trump officials of investigation push ahead of Ukraine call: report MORE‘s signature.

“While the House and Senate continue negotiations on setting the allocations, we need to buy more time. The House and Senate need to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 20 and allow these talks to continue,” McConnell said from the Senate floor.

House appropriators introduced a continuing resolution (CR) that will fund the government through Dec. 20. Lawmakers have until the end of Thursday to prevent a government shutdown, and McConnell stressed that the chamber will remain in session to pass the bill before leaving for a weeklong Thanksgiving break.

“This is what we need, a CR as clean as possible through Dec. 20. … A clean CR to Dec. 20 would pass the Senate, and the White House has indicated President Trump would sign it,” McConnell added.

The government is currently funded through Nov. 21. But negotiations around the larger fiscal 2020 bills have been at a stalemate for months because of divisions on spending for Trump’s border wall and top-line spending figures.

Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinLawmakers skeptical of progress on spending deal as wall battle looms Trump to tour Apple factory with Tim Cook on Wednesday The Hill’s Morning Report — Public impeachment drama resumes today MORE, House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiSchumer calls on Trump to testify as part of impeachment inquiry Sunday shows — Spotlight shifts to Sondland ahead of impeachment inquiry testimony Perception won’t be reality, once AI can manipulate what we see MORE (D-Calif.), House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita LoweyNita Sue LoweyLawmakers skeptical of progress on spending deal as wall battle looms On The Money: Trump appeals to Supreme Court to keep tax returns from NY prosecutors | Pelosi says deal on new NAFTA ‘imminent’ | Mnuchin downplays shutdown threat | Trump hits Fed after Walmart boasts strong earnings Lawmakers aim for agreement on top-line spending by next week MORE (D-N.Y.) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyLawmakers skeptical of progress on spending deal as wall battle looms On The Money: Trump appeals to Supreme Court to keep tax returns from NY prosecutors | Pelosi says deal on new NAFTA ‘imminent’ | Mnuchin downplays shutdown threat | Trump hits Fed after Walmart boasts strong earnings Overnight Health Care: Cigarette smoking rates at new low | Spread of vaping illness slowing | Dems in Congress push to block Trump abortion rule MORE (R-Ala.) met late last week to discuss the fiscal 2020 bills.

Lowey and Shelby are hoping to get a deal on the top-line figures by Wednesday.

McConnell added on Monday that he wants to wrap up as much of the fiscal 2020 bills as possible by the end of the year, a goal he has privately told Senate Republicans.

Lawmakers are formally scheduled to be in session an additional two weeks after the Thanksgiving break, but they are likely to be in session at least through the third week of December given the Dec. 20 end date for the new stopgap bill.

“This is our opportunity to get a bipartisan process back on track … and then with more cooperation, we can reach agreement on allocations and pass as many of the 12 appropriations bills as possible before the end of the year,” he added.