[author: Lai Lam]
The March 23 government-funding deadline is just around the corner. Lawmakers are scrambling to wrap up their work on the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill, which would fund the government for the rest of this fiscal year. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has been pushing appropriators to get a bill out by March 14 to avoid the possibility of having to do another short-term continuing resolution.
Negotiations stalled last week due to the GOP’s attempt to drop a few family planning policy riders (e.g., defunding Planned Parenthood) into the $1.3 trillion spending package. Democrats are vehemently opposed to such poison-pill additions.
More than 100 riders are still under consideration according to House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD). The omnibus is almost certain to include a fix for Sec. 199A. There may even be a short-term extension for the FAA — reauthorization is due on March 31. An updated version of the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act or RESA (S.2526) and the Bipartisan HSA Improvement Act (H.R. 5138) are also in play for the final package. And whether there’s another one-year extension for extenders is anybody’s guess at this point – we’re not optimistic.
The House is aiming to release the text of the omnibus on March 14. The goal is to hold a floor vote on March 16.
