The Senate’s game of amendment whack-a-mole continued as leadership worked to resolve holds on the chamber’s three-bill spending “minibus,” only for more issues to appear in their place.
Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., blamed Republican “poison pill amendments” for the delay last week but said he hoped to resolve disagreements and start voting on amendments soon. But an agreement that would allow the spending package to come to the floor proved elusive, and senators said they were still hotlining amendments as the time ebbed away.
Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., took to the floor late in the afternoon Thursday amid speculation that she would announce that final issues had been resolved. But Murray wrapped up business for the day without mentioning spending bills. The Senate is holding only a pro forma session Monday and will resume legislative business Tuesday.
