n a dramatic end-of-year twist on Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats once again stood in the way of a Republican-led government funding package, forcing lawmakers to adjourn and return to their districts without passing critical spending measures. AOL
Senate Republicans had worked for weeks on a five-bill funding package aimed at preventing another government funding crisis in January. The plan would have provided appropriations for major federal departments, including Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Commerce, Justice, Interior, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development — covering a large portion of the federal government’s responsibilities. AOL
But just as the Senate prepared to advance the measure, Democratic opposition at the last minute derailed the effort. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced that the plan would be shelved for now after Democrats refused to allow a vote — a decision that left Republicans and many independents frustrated as lawmakers cleared out of the chamber heading home for the holidays. AOL
Thune expressed hope that when Congress returns in January, Democrats will be willing to cross the aisle and support the funding bills they claim to want to see passed. “They say they want to do them — they just didn’t want to do them today,” Thune said. AOL
Leadership on the GOP side had believed they were poised to move forward, but negotiations broke down late Thursday as a handful of Democratic senators held out. Republicans had cleared most procedural hurdles, only to be stopped by objections from senators angry over unrelated policy disputes, including debates over research center funding in Colorado. AOL
With lawmakers gone for the year and key deadlines approaching, the risk of another funding impasse in late January now looms larger. Republicans argue that Democrats continue to play politics instead of working toward a resolution, leaving critical government functions in limbo. AOL
Lawmakers will return after the holiday recess facing not only the unresolved funding situation but also ongoing disagreement over expiring health-care subsidies and other contentious issues that have repeatedly stalled legislative progress. AOL