WASHINGTON — US senators are poised to consider a stop-gap funding bill to that keeps the federal government running through Dec. 11 and strips funding from Planned Parenthood — expected to set the stage for a more viable bill later this week.
The $1.017 trillion measure conforms to spending caps ordered in the 2011 Budget Control Act, but adds $74.7 billion for defense through the Overseas Contingency Operations account, which is exempt from the caps. The OCO amount is roughly $13 billion more than the president's budget request.
Democrats who oppose defunding Planned Parenthood are expected to filibuster the measure when it comes up for a vote on Thursday — the same day that Pope Francis addresses Congress.
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell is reported to be planning a continuing resolution later this week that strips omits the Planned Parenthood provision, which Senate Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid said he would welcome.
"This is yet another case of the Republican leader wasting time before we address the real deal," Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor Tuesday. "We read in this morning's papers that the Republican leader intends to bring a clean continuing resolution before the Senate later this week. That's not a day too soon."
Democrats have called for an equal increase on the non-defense side for any increase above budget caps on the defense side.
As GOP members entered a closed-door caucus meeting Tuesday afternoon, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss., voiced support for the bill.
"Our committee has approved all 12 of the annual appropriations bills required to meet our national security and domestic priorities. Most of these bills have bipartisan support," Cochran said in a statement.
An analysis of the current Senate bill says said it prohibits the Pentagon from starting new programs, entering into multi-year contracts, or increasing production rates. Nor does it provides for any activities that were not funded in 2015.
Email: jgould@defensenews.com
Twitter: @reporterjoe
Joe Gould was the senior Pentagon reporter for Defense News, covering the intersection of national security policy, politics and the defense industry. He had previously served as Congress reporter.
