Senate Leaders Reach Across Party Lines, Unveil New Budget Deal
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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) – Senate leaders unveiled a budget deal, calling it a significant bipartisan step forward.
The deal increases spending on both Pentagon and domestic programs but there's still work to avoid another government shutdown Thursday night.
Senate leaders reached across party lines to seal an agreement on a two-year budget deal.
Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the pact a genuine breakthrough.
"This budget deal is the first real sprout of bipartisanship," Schumer said.
Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell joined him in outlining a plan calling for spending increases in both military and domestic programs, including veterans' health care and fighting opioid abuse.
"No one would suggest it is perfect but we worked hard to find common ground and stay focused on serving the American people," McConnell said.
What the Senate deal does not include is any new language on immigration, and that's already causing a snag in the House.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi wants house Republicans to allow a separate vote on legislation protecting immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.
The Senate has already promised that vote. Pelosi, speaking for hours on the House floor, asked for the same guarantee.
"Without that commitment from Speaker [Paul] Ryan comparable to the commitment from Leader [Mitch] McConnell this package does not have my support," Pelosi said.
The budget deal got a positive review from the White House.
"We are pleased Congress has been able to meet our defense spending requirement and come together on a 2-year spending bill," said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
If the house opposes the plan, it adds more pressure for at least a temporary agreement to fund the government by Thursday night or face another shutdown.
