McConnell tees up energy spending bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell teed up an energy appropriations bill on Tuesday.

{mosads}The Kentucky Republican filed cloture on proceeding to the spending bill. Under Senate rules, that sets up a first procedural vote as early as Thursday. No vote has been scheduled though, and the Senate is still working on an annual defense bill.

The House passed the legislation, which would fund the Department of Energy and water development projects, largely along party lines earlier this year.

The administration, however, has threatened to veto the legislation, arguing that it “drastically underfunds” energy programs.

The measure provides $1.2 billion more than the current spending level but is $633 million less than what the Obama administration requested.