On November 18, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) indicated his opposition to an omnibus spending measure that would package all 12 of the unfinished FY2011 federal appropriations bills into a single legislative measure. Congress has not completed work on any of the annual appropriations bills.

Currently, the federal government is operating under a continuing resolution (P.L. 111-242) that funds programs through December 3. Democratic leaders had hoped to move a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending measure during the lame duck session.

Conservative Republicans prefer to move a two- to three-month extension of current funding in hopes of pushing for deeper cuts when the new Republican-controlled House of Representatives is seated next year.

McConnell’s opposition to an omnibus measure could make it difficult for Democrats to muster the 60 votes needed for cloture to bring the bill up for a vote.

For more information, contact MHI Vice President of Government Relations Jason Boehlert at 703-558-0660 or jboehlert@mfghome.org.