BUDGET/GOP/HOUSE OF REPS: “The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives was set to vote on Tuesday [2-6-18] on a short-term budget measure that would avert a rerun of last month’s three-day partial government shutdown, as lawmakers continued to grapple with divisive immigration measures.
The stop-gap measure drafted by House Republicans would extend funding through March 23, as well as provide for a year of funding for defense and two years of funding for community health centers, lawmakers said after they met on Monday night.
But Senate Democrats are likely to balk at the House spending bill, likely requiring a last-minute retooling before existing money for government agencies runs out on Thursday. Republicans also control the Senate, but with a slim 51-49 majority they need some Democratic support to pass spending bills.
To avert another shutdown, both the House and the Senate must pass at least a short-term spending bill, the latest in a series of such temporary measures that have become entwined with a months-long debate over protections for young ‘Dreamer’ immigrants. A vote on the House measure was expected after 11:30 a.m. (1630 GMT).”
-Richard Cowan, “U.S. House to vote on government funding as immigration battle simmers,” Reuters, Feb. 6, 2018 06:12am