Cantor: Spending debate could cut into planned recess

The debate over the House Republicans’ spending proposal could spill into the scheduled Presidents Day recess.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who controls the lower chamber’s calendar, circulated a memo Wednesday saying that consideration of hundreds of proposed amendments to the continuing resolution could extend the debate past Thursday at 3 p.m., when the House was scheduled to hold its last votes of the week.

{mosads}”Members are advised, however, that nearly 300 amendments relate to the end of the bill and we are not yet to that point,” Cantor wrote. “Therefore, Members are further advised that consideration of the CR and related votes may stretch beyond the 3:00 p.m. goal of last votes for the end of the week on Thursday. Members should plan for that contingency.”

Republicans and Democrats have already engaged in a heated back-and-forth over the proposal, which would cut $61 billion from last year’s spending levels, and Cantor’s advisory underscores the contentiousness and complexity of the debate. 

Lawmakers were scheduled to begin their recess Friday and spend next week in their districts. 

Cantor said the conclusion of business will depend on how many
amendments are taken up for consideration, the length of the debate over
those amendments and which amendments receive votes.

He added, however: “It is my intention that all legislative
action on the CR be completed on Thursday.”

Democrats strongly oppose the measure, and President Obama has threatened to veto the bill if it reaches his desk. The legislation would fund the government through the end of this fiscal year. The current government funding measure expires March 4. 

But Republicans are also pushing for greater cuts. The Republican Study Committee, a group of House conservatives led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), is pushing an amendment that includes $20 billion in additional cuts.