Staff Reports
To halt a filibuster and start work on an interim budget package to prevent a government shutdown, the Senate is scheduled to have a test vote Tuesday evening.
There will be a test vote on Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) motion to accelerate energy permits and authorise a pipeline in his state at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday. If it can't, the finance agreement is probably on hold.
On Manchin, a group of liberal Democrats and several Republicans have united. The energy permitting requirements are disliked by progressives because they care about the environment. Republicans reject the proposal because they don't want to hand Manchin a victory even if they support increased energy licences.
Manchin is the target of Republican animosity because he participated in the August agreement that allowed the Democrats' spending, tax, and climate measure to pass. Manchin's agreement to support that package with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., included a promise that permitting reform would be included in the short-term budget proposal.
The interim measure provides funding for the government until December 16 and allocates $12 billion for home heating assistance as well as help for Ukraine. All other governmental funding is renewed under the law at the same amounts.
Before the government's funds run out at 12:00:01 a.m. ET on Saturday, the Band-Aid measure must be approved by both the House and the Senate.
A re-vote might be requested by Schumer if the Manchin proposal is removed and the test vote on Tuesday fails to get the required 60 votes since many Democrats and Republicans are opposed. Alternately, the House might craft its own budget proposal, one without the Manchin clause, and submit it to the Senate.
In either case, the clock is running out of time. Given that both organizations would have slightly missed the deadline, there is now a substantial likelihood that there will be a break in government financing for at least a portion of the weekend.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Fox News.
