08/01/2019

Senate Advances Two-year Budget Deal

The bill already passed the House last week

The Senate approved a two-year budget deal this afternoon, lifting the debt ceiling for two years and reducing the risk of another government shutdown.

The bill already passed the House last week, so today’s 67-28 vote in the Senate will send the measure to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it despite complaints from fiscal hawks that it only fuels the nation’s growing debt. Trump pushed Republicans to vote for the bill today, tweeting that a two-year deal “gets us past the election” and “there is always plenty of time to CUT” spending later.

Though some conservatives bristled at the increased spending for non-defense programs, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said the deal is the product of negotiations with the Democratic-controlled House and fulfills a number of Republican priorities.

“This government funding agreement is the right deal for our national defense,” McConnell said. “It’s the right deal because it ensures the United States maintains its full faith and credit. It’s the right deal because it brings predictability and stability through 2020 and moves toward restoring regular appropriations.”

Lawmakers will still need to pass individual spending bills to avert a government shutdown on Oct. 1, but the budget deal sets overall spending levels that should make it easier for Congress to negotiate those individual appropriations bills.

This article was provided to OSAE by the Power of A and ASAE's Inroads.