Sen. McConnell Seeking Middle Ground for Upcoming Spending Cap Negotiations

April 17, 2019

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is seeking to establish middle ground between the White House and the Democrat-controlled House for a bipartisan deal on fiscal spending limits for next year, The Hill reported Wednesday.
Democrats are pressing that any fiscal 2020 budget legislation include nondefense spending set at levels equal to defense spending, while the White House budget slashes nondefense spending and increases defense spending by 5%.
McConnell says finding a deal that will satisfy the White House, Senate and Congress will be his top legislative priority following the April recess but believes achieving it will be difficult.
“We have got to get used to talking to each other,” McConnell said he has told President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
The upcoming 2020 presidential campaign is driving politics around the budget negotiation talks.
Last week’s collapse of bipartisan negotiations on a disaster relief supplemental spending bill highlighted how difficult it could become to pass bipartisan budget legislation.
 
Kentucky Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer

April 17, 2019

Recent News

Final Appropriations Deadline Approaches

Final Appropriations Deadline Approaches

Friday is the deadline for Congress to pass the final six appropriations bills for the current fiscal year. The defense appropriations bill is part of the package. Punchbowl News reported this morning that negotiators have finished work on defense spending and other...

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia expects to hire 3,000 skilled trade workers this year and a total of 19,000 over the next 10 years as the demand for nuclear-powered submarines increases, The Virginian-Pilot reported. “We are making intentional investments and...

Upcoming Webinars on EPA Community Change Grants

Upcoming Webinars on EPA Community Change Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a round of funding for “environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity...

Snap of the Week

Snap of the Week

Lt. Col. Jonathan Vaage, 98th Flying Training Squadron director of operations, and Branden Sorensen, Air Force Recruiting Service-sponsored Formula Drift driver, prepare to land after tandem skydiving at the Air Force Academy, Colorado, March 13. Sorensen, who has...

PAST STORIES