Senate Fails to Reach Funding Deal, Trade-Related Riders Not Expected
Senate appropriators have not agreed on an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the federal government past the night of Dec. 11, despite pledges to float the legislation at some point on Dec. 8. The previous stopgap measure extended fiscal year…
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2014 funding through Dec. 11. As of International Trade Today's deadline, the bill is hung up by negotiations over non-appropriations policies tacked onto the bill, called “riders” in congressional parlance, many observers say. When asked last week whether the appropriations bill would include a country-of-origin labeling rider, Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said the chamber is open to considering a range of riders. Shelby declined to comment on any trade-related riders, but said in an Dec. 8 interview he is trying to “crystallize” the compromise as quickly as possible. “Today is Monday,” said Shelby. “I’d like to get out of here by Thursday.” The Senate is scheduled to go on holiday recess after Dec. 11, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has threatened to keep the chamber open through the following week. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., also said on Dec. 8 he did not believe the Trade Adjustment Assistance would be tacked onto the omnibus bill either.