House Republican leaders “will work to keep (the bill) free of too many spending anomalies to avoid sapping Republican support and fend off policy riders that could jeopardize Democratic votes needed to move it through the Senate,” says Roll Call. In Washington parlance, that is a “clean” bill. Under that approach, contentious issues such as the Republican-proposed school lunch waiver would be set aside for now.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition hopes lawmakers also will sideline the so-called GIPSA rider that prevents USDA from revamping livestock marketing rule along with House-proposed cuts in soil and water conservation. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley says action on tax breaks for biodiesel makers, wind power and equipment purchases, collectively known as tax “extenders,” is not expected until the lame duck session.
For now, the short-term spending bill is expected to fund the government as the same levels as the current fiscal year. The lame duck session could rubber-stamp that approach for the rest of fiscal 2015, pass the over-due spending bills for each federal department, singly, in bundles or in an all-encompassing bill. “If Republicans win control of the Senate, real spending bills may not pass until next year,” said the New York Times.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in a 5-page memo the House will consider HR 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act. The bill would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing a revision to clean water regulations proposed this spring. Farm groups say the EPA proposal would lead to federal regulation of farm ditches. EPA says there would be no change in jurisdiction. Debate could begin as early as Tuesday, according to McCarthy’s schedule.
There is a companion Senate bill, S 1006, sponsored by 28 Republicans, that has sat in committee with no action since May.