Bipartisan Senate deal on budget

WASHINGTON – Senate leadership has reached an agreement Feb. 7 on a two-year budget deal, adding some $200B in federal spending. The bipartisan accord would lift statutory budget limits and provide tens of billions of dollars in disaster relief funding. Earlier in negotiations, despite hopes of a deal to keep the federal government operational – rather than having a second shutdown this year - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced early on Feb. 7 that “a large number” of fellow Democrats will oppose a spending deal unless guaranteed a vote on immigration legislation. The later-in-the-day agreement removed the immigration issue from the budget deal. Senate Democrats have no appetite for another shutdown, and had begun to de-link “Dreamers” from a budget deal to touting domestic federal spending; and kicking the immigration issue down the road. Without congressional action, the government will begin to shutdown at midnight Feb 8. (Source: Washington Post 02/027/18)