Reid tees up defense spending bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) placed the defense spending on the Senate’s docket while it waits for a government funding bill from the House.

On Tuesday night, Reid filed cloture on the motion to concur with the House-passed legislation that authorizes $585 billion of Pentagon programs for 2015, H.R. 3979.

{mosads}Reid was hoping to advance the measure and set up a vote through a unanimous consent agreement since time is running out before the end of the 113th Congress. But Reid was forced to file cloture because of objections from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).

Coburn complained that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) worked out by House and Senate committee leaders contained “earmarks,” some of which don’t relate to national defense issues.

The package, which passed the House last week on a 300-119 vote, contains provisions funding national parks and wilderness areas.

Both the House and Senate had hoped to adjourn for the year on Thursday, but that looks increasingly unlikely. If Coburn doesn’t agree to expedite the NDAA vote, procedural debate time could drag on until Thursday.

Lawmakers also need to pass a government spending bill by Thursday to avoid a government shutdown.