US budget: US Senate agrees on budget law

The month-long dispute over the US budget has been settled – at least in the Senate. The highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives only wants to agree on one condition.

US budget: US Senate agrees on budget law

Republicans and Democrats in US Senate have agreed on a budget after months of controversy. The package is scheduled for two years, as leaders of Republicans and Democrats in congressional chamber, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, announced.

The budget refore covers almost 400 billion dollars and foresees a significant increase in expenditure on defence and or programmes. Investments in infrastructure, civil protection and fight against drug abuse were also foreseen, said McConnell. According to information from advisory circles, pact will also raise government's debt ceiling, which would prevent us insolvency.

The negotiating partners were under time, because on Thursday an interim budget expires and at night on Friday at midnight a standstill of public administration – a so-called shutdown – threatened. It was only in January that a shutdown had temporarily come to a halt because Republicans and Democrats could not agree on a transitional financing.

Both sides have been arguing about US budget for months. However, agreement must also be approved by House of Representatives. The highest-ranking Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, is threatened with a rejection of budgetary pact. Pelosi ties Democrats ' approval to a condition: The Republican Party must allow congressional chamber to vote on legislation to protect immigrants, said Pelosi.

Criticism of budget comes in House of Representatives but also from Republicans: The MEP Mark Meadows told broadcaster MSNBC, he fears that budget will be "a Christmas tree of spending – that many votes will be bought". The hard-core Group House Freedom Caucus of Republican is for major spending increases for defense, but against higher spending on interior.

Date Of Update: 08 February 2018, 12:03
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