Reid tees up Senate’s first 2015 appropriations bills

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) set up a procedural vote on the House Commerce and Justice Appropriations bill.

Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 4660, which the Senate will amend with its own “minibus” package of spending bills.

{mosads}The Senate’s $120 billion minibus includes funding for the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

The House already passed H.R. 4660, making it easier for the Senate to send the legislation back to the House and set up a conference committee to work out differences between the two chambers.

Reid also filed cloture on several judicial and executive nominees. The Senate won’t begin work on the appropriations bill until the nominations are confirmed, which will likely be Wednesday.