Clock ticks down on GOP Congress

[DonViejo]

BY JORDAIN CARNEY - 12/04/18 06:00 AM EST

Lawmakers are facing an end-of-the-year traffic jam with legislation piling up and a tight schedule that leaves them little wiggle room.

Leadership is juggling a backlog of must-pass bills and nominations as well as eleventh-hour requests from rank-and-file members as legislators try to cram as much as possible into the final days of the work year. Republicans, in particular, are feeling pressure to make a last-ditch effort as they prepare to cede control of the House to Democrats in January.

But the schedule got further scrambled following former President George H.W. Bush’s death, with Washington expected to dedicate days to mourning the 41st president. House Republicans announced Monday they are canceling votes for the week, while the Senate is delaying the start of its work week.

Republican leadership unveiled a two-week continuing resolution to prevent a partial government shutdown by Friday night’s deadline for the seven appropriations bills they failed to pass by Sept. 30, the end of fiscal 2018.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/419560-clock-ticks-down-on-gop-congress

[beachbum bob]

1. many poison pills will be attached to appropriation bills, just saying they have only a couple

weeks to get back on the agenda of dismantling govt