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Senate GOP drops 'poison pills' from key spending bill
Source: Associated Press
Senate GOP drops ‘poison pills’ from key spending bill
By ANDREW TAYLOR
26 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are ridding a key spending bill of controversial environmental provisions opposed by Democrats in an attempt to avoid the annual year-end budget pileup.
Tuesday’s move by Sen. Lisa Murkowski extends an olive branch to Democrats and could allow the first floor debate on a key spending bill for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency since former President Barack Obama’s first year in office. It’s all part of an effort to avoid a catchall “omnibus” spending bill.
President Donald Trump has signed two such mega-bills since taking office but has vowed he won’t do it again.
Republicans dropped a policy provision from previous years, for instance, that would have weakened a new government rule limiting methane waste from gas and oil drilling on public lands. It’s one of several “riders” opposed by Democrats and environmental groups that have been included in the measure in past years, only to get stripped-out in end-stage negotiations.
By avoiding the fight now, Senate Republicans are speeding up debate on the measure and winning panel approval for the measure for the first time since 2009.
-snip-
By ANDREW TAYLOR
26 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are ridding a key spending bill of controversial environmental provisions opposed by Democrats in an attempt to avoid the annual year-end budget pileup.
Tuesday’s move by Sen. Lisa Murkowski extends an olive branch to Democrats and could allow the first floor debate on a key spending bill for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency since former President Barack Obama’s first year in office. It’s all part of an effort to avoid a catchall “omnibus” spending bill.
President Donald Trump has signed two such mega-bills since taking office but has vowed he won’t do it again.
Republicans dropped a policy provision from previous years, for instance, that would have weakened a new government rule limiting methane waste from gas and oil drilling on public lands. It’s one of several “riders” opposed by Democrats and environmental groups that have been included in the measure in past years, only to get stripped-out in end-stage negotiations.
By avoiding the fight now, Senate Republicans are speeding up debate on the measure and winning panel approval for the measure for the first time since 2009.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/b8578edc5dd04b53b9f0d6db1b68f1cb/Senate-GOP-drops-'poison-pills'-from-key-spending-bill