House Approves Omnibus Spending Bill; Senate Expected To Vote This Weekend

The House on Thursday approved an omnibus spending package that combines six of the seven remaining appropriations bills for fiscal year 2010 and removes restrictions related to abortion funding and needle-exchange programs in Washington, D.C., the Washington Post reports. The bill passed by a 221-202 vote, with 28 Democrats joining all 174 Republicans in opposing the measure (Pershing, Washington Post, 12/11).

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the district's non-voting member of the House, said that removing the prohibition on the district's use of its own funds for abortion services for low-income women particularly was important because it "has created severe hardships" and "singled out the district and its women for unfair and unequal treatment."

In addition, the omnibus bill would ease restrictions on needle-exchange programs designed to curb the spread of HIV among injection drug users (Urbina, New York Times, 12/11). The provision would allow federal funding for such programs except in locations "that public health or law enforcement agencies determine to be inappropriate" (Women's Health Policy Report, 12/10).

The omnibus bill, which includes foreign aid funding, calls for an increase in foreign aid spending by between 10% and 15%, the AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (Taylor, AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12/11). A provision that would have permanently repealed the "global gag rule" in foreign aid funding was removed during conference committee negotiations after antiabortion-rights lawmakers threatened to block the bill's passage. The rule bans U.S. foreign aid from going to organizations that offer abortion services and information, even if they use their own funds for such services (Women's Health Policy Report, 12/10).

The omnibus bill includes the Financial Services (HR 3170), Commerce-Justice-Science (HR 2847), Labor-HHS-Education (HR 3293), Military Construction-Veterans Affairs (HR 3082), State-Foreign Operations (HR 3081) and Transportation-HUD (HR 3288) appropriations bills. The final appropriations bill for Defense spending (HR 3326) is being held back until next week by Congressional leaders to determine what other legislation can be added to it, the Post reports (Washington Post, 12/11). According to CQ Today, Democrats must complete work on the omnibus bill by Dec. 18, when a continuing resolution temporarily funding the government expires. Another short-term resolution might be needed to finish work on the bill and give the White House enough time to review the measure before President Obama signs it into law (Vadala, CQ Today, 12/10).














Meanwhile, the Senate on Thursday voted 56-43 to begin debate on the omnibus bill and could vote on the bill as early as this weekend, the AP/CBS News reports. Republicans have said that they plan to filibuster the measure, and several GOP members have voiced opposition to the changes to the district's abortion funding restrictions. Although a tally indicated that Democrats were short of the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster, the party is hopeful of gaining a few Republican votes (Taylor, AP/CBS News, 12/10). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that he expects to vote on the GOP-led filibuster on Saturday, with a final vote possibly occurring on Sunday (Pierce/Brady, Roll Call, 12/10).

Passage of Omnibus Spending Bill 'Imperative' for District, New York Times Editorial Says

As the omnibus bill moves through the House and Senate, "Congress is on the verge of enacting a sea change for self-government" in the district that would include allowing local funding for abortion services and "a more liberal use" of needle-exchange programs, the New York Times says in an editorial. It is "imperative that majority Democrats fulfill their vow to smash these fetters placed on the district by past conservative-dominated Congresses," the editorial says, adding, "Historically, national lawmakers have too often meddled restrictively in the district's business."

The omnibus bill's "passage would at least make the district less a point of embarrassment before critics who note that, for all the talk of democracy in Congress, the host city has never been allotted its full share," the editorial continues. "It's time for the Senate to reverse Washington's role as Congress' pocket colony and restore vital home-rule initiatives," it concludes (New York Times, 12/11).


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