WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) — The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday said work will begin on a stopgap spending bill that would fund the government through March to avoid budget negotiations with President Barack Obama.
“Would you rather negotiate with Harry Reid and Barack Obama or with Donald Trump?” Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chairman of an Appropriations subcommittee, said after the announcement. “It’s a pretty easy choice.”
The decision was made after a closed-door meeting with Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence.
“The Trump administration had a desire to have an impact in what was in the spending bill when they take office,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky., said. “It was in deference to the Trump administration.”
The short-term spending bill will allow Trump’s administration to control government spending days after the Jan. 20 inauguration. Some Senate leaders worry budget negotiations could interfere with confirming Trump’s Cabinet members or his nominee to the Supreme Court.
“I think to do anything in the Senate takes a long time,” Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune said.
“It will be a very busy first six months, and if you have to stop and finish last year’s business in the middle of that, it’s challenging.”
House Republicans have until Dec. 9 to pass the short-term bill that would fund the government at current levels.
