The $250 billion deal to pay for the government until March 4, which is expected to come to the Senate floor for a vote Tuesday, freezes spending for most government programs at 2010 levels. The deal is expected to clear the Senate and House before current government-spending authority expires that day.
The proposed short-term funding measure would kick the larger spending debate into the new year, when Republicans will control the House and have more Senate seats. It would also start the bargaining between congressional Republicans and the White House at a lower funding level than the now-defunct Democratic plan.
Obama administration officials could shift money around within federal agencies to keep health care and Wall Street regulation on track. But Republicans could try to block such moves through legislation.
"It's going to be a big political fight," said Sen. Richard Shelby (R., Ala.). "I think the odds shift toward Republicans."
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D., Mont.) said he was confident Democrats could still win funding battles for health care and financial regulation. "Clearly, the fewer resources devoted to any program, the harder it is to implement it," he said.
It's true that Democrats still control the Senate, but I fully expect the House Republicans to go scorched earth and refuse to fund anything passed in 2010, and that includes whatever the Pentagon needs for implementing the repeal of DADT.
We'll see what comes of this, but Sen. Shelby's right: this battle favors the Republicans.
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