WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. House Democrats, without a single Republican vote, passed a $447 billion appropriations bill Thursday to fund several government agencies next fiscal year. The House approved the conference committee report on a 221-202 vote, over GOP concerns about spending increases.
Senate Democrats and Republicans were at odds over when to vote on the conference report that combines six of the seven remaining 2010 appropriations bills.
Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday that the chamber will be in session during the weekend to take up the measure, adding that the rest of the chamber's healthcare debate was unclear, Roll Call reported. Senate Republicans earlier indicated they would draw out debate on the measure, forcing the weekend session.
"We will certainly have discussion about a bill that has 4,072 earmarks totaling $3.7 billion in it," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said.
The spending bills in the package are for departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Justice, Labor, Veterans Affairs and State.
Congress faces a Dec. 18 deadline to get President Barack Obama to sign the conference report on the fiscal year 2010 appropriations bills into law to avoid a government shutdown. A continuing resolution, which allowed government to operate without approved funding after the new fiscal year started Oct. 1, expires on Dec. 18.
