Senate to take up $1.1T bill to keep govt running

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By ANDREW TAYLOR

WASHINGTON (AP) — It's now up to the Senate to pass a huge $1.1 trillion spending bill to keep the government running, but not before a battle between old school veterans and new breed freshmen such as tea partier Ted Cruz and Elizabeth Warren, a liberal with a national following.

The smart money's on old school types such as Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

The measure passed the House on Thursday after a day of drama but by a relatively comfortable 219-206 vote. The vote came after GOP leaders sent the House into a seven-hour recess to give the White House time to lobby Democrats angry that the measure weakens rules on trading risky financial products known as derivatives and allows wealthy donors to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into political parties.

In the end, 57 House Democrats voted for the bill, including two of the party's top three leaders. Democrats argued that there was too much good in the bill to scuttle it and get a worse deal next year when Republicans seize control of the Senate.

FULL story at link.



Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid of Nev., left, talks with Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Ky. on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, during a ceremony to present the Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Civil Air Patrol whose valor and dedication saved countless lives during World War II. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)


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